John Bellany

Untitled (Self-Portrait with Dog)

previous next

About this artwork

John Bellany used his immediate surroundings and his own experiences as raw material for his art. Portraits, especially self-portraits, were central to his work. Bellany's portraits are vibrant and visual statements, rather than close likenesses. After undergoing liver transplant surgery in 1988, Bellany produced a series of extremely personal self-portraits charting the course of his hospitalisation and recovery. In his works, Bellany used his own symbolic language, often taken from the sea or from religion. Animals also appear in this system of symbols; fish, owls, monkeys and, as in this case, a dog.

Updated before 2020

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Tell us what you think.

John Bellany

John Bellany