His name is Kleberg and he may very will be the most expensive dog in the world. Or at least in the art world.
This Thursday, Christie’s New York will be auctioning off a painting of the yellow Labrador Retriever by his owner, renowned painter Jamie Wyeth. It’s expected to fetch $40,000 to $60,000.
Wyeth, son of the great American painter Andrew Wyeth, said animals regularly roam in and out of his art studio. So when his pal Kleberg wandered in one day, Wyeth painted a black circle around the dog’s eye — a la Pete the Pup of the old comedy “Little Rascals.”
Wyeth said Kleberg looked so endearing, he made him the subject of several studies and paintings, including “Study of Kleberg,” which is being sold.
Art — and dog — lovers may recall that Andrew Wyeth painted the classic “Master Bedroom,” which shows a yellow lab snoozing on a bed, head resting comfortably on a pillow.