Cocca and Makłowicz

What the painting shows

This is a humorous portrait of two animals, painted in the style of an Orthodox icon of the Virgin and Child. The main figure is a tan and brown dog with a black saddle marking, long, floppy chocolate-coloured ears and dark, shiny eyes, resembling a pinscher or beagle mix. The dog looks upward with an air of dignity and slight weariness.

Wrapped in a golden robe, the dog holds a small black kitten in its arms. The kitten has wide, yellow-green eyes, a pink nose and pink paw pads. It stretches its paws towards the viewer, and there is a small pink cross-shaped mark on its tummy.

Golden halos painted in thick, textured paint glow behind both animals' heads, and the background is a flat, bright blue. Cocca and Makłowicz are the names of the pets in the portrait; the second is a nod to Robert Makłowicz, a much-loved Polish food and travel journalist.

Technique and style

A vertical oil painting on canvas that blends pet portraiture with religious iconography. The halos and robe are painted thickly in metallic gold with visible brush marks, imitating the gilding of icons, while the animals' faces are painted realistically with soft modelling of light. It is an example of a custom pet portrait in icon style, a popular funny gift for dog and cat owners.

At a glance

• Medium: oil paint
• Surface: canvas
• Orientation: portrait (vertical)
• Dominant colours: gold, bright blue, brown, black, pink
• Subjects: dog, black cat, icon, halo, religious art parody, pet portrait

Fun fact

A black coat may give cats more than an elegant look. Geneticists, including Stephen O'Brien, noticed that the mutations behind melanism in cats affect genes linked to the immune system, and suggested that black cats may be slightly more resistant to some infections. It is still a hypothesis, but an interesting one given how unlucky black cats are said to be.

Want a similar painting?

The Fart studio paints commissioned artwork: portraits of people and pets, landscapes and absurd scenes like this one. You can order a similar piece featuring dog, black cat, icon, starring your own pet, a loved one or your favourite place. Just describe your idea in the contact form and attach a photo.