17. Canis Major

Medium: Intaglio with hand coloring
Edition: 4/40
Dimensions: Plate 14x19; Paper 17x22"

Latin for great dog, Canis Major is also known as Orion's guard dog. Canis Major contains Sirius, which is the brightest star in the night sky of the Northern Hemisphere, and is the Greek word meaning 'scorching'. Sirius is located at the point of the dog's nose. In ancient Greece the dawn rising of this brilliant star just before the sun marked the beginning of the hottest period of summer, a time which came to be known as the Dog Days.