Bronze hunting dogs Auguste Nicolas Caïn
The two bronze statues have stood at the end of Papegaaienlaan since 1907, welcoming visitors to ARTIS Zoo.
Auguste Nicolas Caïn was a renowned animal sculptor.
The artist and the hunting dogs
Renowned French animal sculptor Auguste Nicolas Caïn created the bronze hunting dogs. Caïn’s decision to sculpt pets is striking, as he usually focused on depicting ferocious predators. The two dogs, Brillador and Lumineau, are of different breeds and were originally tied to a tree stump behind them by a bronze leash.
Donated to ARTIS
ARTIS member Pieter Langerhuizen donated the pair to ARTIS in 1907. Prior to this, they had flanked the gate to his mansion in Huizen. Along with other garden ornaments, such as the Westerman Monument and sculptures of stream gods, the hunting dogs are now a national monument at ARTIS.
Artwork in detail
- made in
- 1907
- created by
- Auguste Nicolas Caïn
- made of
- bronze
- dimensions
- 140 cm (h) x 175 cm (w) x 77 cm (d)
Papegaaienlaan
Papegaaienlaan starts at the main entrance to ARTIS and is the departure point for a walk through the zoo. This path ends in a square where a ferry used to cross the Nieuwe Prinsengracht. There were originally two stone sphinxes here, but they probably disappeared at some time in the past. They were replaced in 1907 by the two large bronze hunting dogs that now adorn the square.
