Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 16 works by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge in our catalogue
In short
To the gallery's eye, Cassius Marcellus Coolidge's most famous painting is Kelly Pool. Riding The Goat and Post Mortem complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 16 works by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge in our catalog, the gallery presents the 16 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
In the lively atmosphere of a dimly lit bar, the game is underway. Cassius Marcellus Coolidge captures a spirited moment in Kelly Pool, where the usual quiet of a billiard room is replaced by the animated energy of canine competitors. The scene unfolds around a pool table, where several dogs gather to participate in the match. Some stand poised near the edge of the table, watching the action with intense…
A St. Bernard sits at the center of a heavy, wooden room. It wears a red crown upon its head. In its right paw, a gavel rests, ready to strike. Around this central figure, other dogs gather in a scene of strange, formal ceremony. There are Collies, Mastiffs, Great Danes, and Terriers. They do not play cards here. Instead, they participate in a ritual of initiation. A candidate rides a…
Post Mortem is an oil painting by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge. Created about 1903, the work belongs to the Dogs Playing Poker series. This collection of sixteen paintings was commissioned by the Brown & Bigelow advertising firm.
The air in the room feels heavy with the quiet aftermath of a high-stakes game. Around a wooden table cluttered with cards, chips, and empty glasses, a group of dogs gathers in a circle of unexpected tenderness. One dejected loser sits slumped, his spirit clearly broken by the hand he has just been dealt. Instead of the tension or aggression one might expect from a gambling den, there is only…
In Higher Education, Cassius Marcellus Coolidge captures a moment of spirited movement upon a wide field. The scene centers on several dogs engaged in play, their bodies caught in various states of action. Some dogs stand tall, while others lie down or sit amidst the grass. They move with a sense of joy, their interactions suggesting a shared, unburdened pleasure. Two sports balls rest on the turf, one near the…
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
Kelly Pool. Riding The Goat and Post Mortem come next.
Kelly Pool, Riding The Goat, Post Mortem, Poker Sympathy, Higher Education, No Graft Here, Stranger In Camp, Sitting Up With A Sick Friend, One To Tie, Two To Win and A Bold Bluff. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 16 works by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge.
Dogs (8), Americana (3) and Chairs (2), across the 16 works on this page.
Oil, for 5 of the 16 works on this page.
Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, known affectionately to his inner circle as "Cash", remains one of the most enduringly recognizable figures in the tapestry of American illustration. Born on September 18, 1844, in the quiet, abolitionist-leaning community of Antwerp, New York, Coolidge’s origins were rooted in the sturdy values of Quaker farming. Raised amidst the principled landscapes of upstate New York, his early life was far removed from the smoky, high-stakes atmosphere of the poker tables that would later define his legacy. While he lacked formal academic training in the fine arts, his journey to becoming a cultural icon was paved with a diverse array of experiences; before settling into his artistic calling, he navigated various roles as a druggist, a sign painter, and even a founder of both a bank and a newspaper.
This eclectic professional background provided him with a unique vantage point on American life, blending the precision required for pharmaceutical work with the visual storytelling essential to signage. As he moved toward Rochester, his creative impulses began to coalesce around a fascination with anthropomorphism—the art of imbuing animals with human characteristics. It was during this period that he began experimenting with what he called "comic foregrounds," a technique where he blended realistic textures and warm tones with whimsical, exaggerated scenarios. His ability to capture the subtle nuances of a canine's expression—a suspicious squint or a confident lean—allowed him to bridge the gap between mere caricature and genuine portraiture.
The zenith of Coolidge’s career arrived in the early 20th century, specifically through his monumental commission for the Brown & Bigelow advertising firm. Between 1903 and 1904, he produced a series of sixteen oil paintings that would forever alter the landscape of American pop culture. These works, most famously known as the "Dogs Playing Poker" series, depicted various breeds engaged in intense, humorous, and often clandestine gambling sessions. In masterpieces such as A Bold Bluff and Stranger In Camp, the viewer is not merely looking at animals; they are witnessing a sophisticated drama of bluffing, camaraderie, and tension.
What makes Coolidge’s work so profoundly impactful is its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgic Americana. His paintings do not exist in a vacuum of high art; rather, they thrive in the communal spaces of society—from basement billiard rooms to family living rooms. He possessed a rare gift for making the absurd feel intimate. By utilizing a style that married the grandeur of American Romanticism with the playful spirit of editorial cartooning, he created a visual language that was accessible yet technically impressive. Even when he playfully signed his name as "Kash Koolidge" for comedic effect, the underlying skill in his brushwork remained undeniable.
Though some critics of his era might have dismissed his work as mere novelty, the historical significance of Cassius Marcellus Coolidge cannot be overstated. He was a progenitor of what we might today call meme culture—creating repeatable, highly recognizable imagery that carries deep emotional and social resonance. His work captures a specific moment in the American psyche: a time of burgeoning leisure, a fascination with the frontier spirit, and a love for the lighthearted storytelling that defines the nation's folk art traditions.
As we look back on his life, which concluded in 1934, we see an artist who successfully navigated the transition from the 19th-century tradition of illustration to the modern era of mass-media iconography. His achievements include:
Today, Coolidge’s paintings continue to fascinate collectors and casual observers alike, serving as a warm, humorous window into a bygone era of American life.
