The golden retriever and its history were feted by 222 goldens and their masters who gathered from around the globe for a celebration in the breed's ancestral Scottish Highlands home in July. Hosted by the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland, the festival is held at the abandoned home of Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, who bred the first golden retriever.

Actress Penelope Cruz (L) and actor Johnny Depp arrive at premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” held at Disneyland on May 7, 2011 in Anaheim, California. Proceeds from the world premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' “Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Members of the 2013 “Jarl Squad” take part in the annual Up Helly Aa festival which culminates in the burning of a Viking Galley in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 29, 2013. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and has employed this theme in the festival since 1870. The event culminates with up to 1,000 “guizers” (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat. (Photo by Andy Buchanan/AFP Photo)

Vintage car enthusiast Peter Bett, attends a auction at Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club on April 2, 2011 in Glamis, Scotland. Buyers from around the UK and Europe are attending the auction of cars collected by William Cunnigham. Among the many rare classics on sale is a 1939 McEvoy Steyr, thought to be the only one in existence along with a Hotchkiss Grand Sport Roadster from 1936. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Members of the Gremlins Carnival Club, open the doors to their workshop to unveil for the first time their cart, Jungle Drums, which is their entry to this year's Bridgwater Carnival, on November 4, 2011 in Bridgwater, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Model Alessandra Ambrosio is seen at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Indio, Calif. (Photo by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)

Light is the sole reason why life exists. It provides us with warmth; it allows us to see; it nourishes all the living things on this planet. Many painters, especially the masters of Old Renaissance Period, have recognized the importance of light and its intimate connection with nature and life itself. In their paintings they gave tribute to light, giving the impression that their paintings had a light source hidden within them. Al Hogue, the artist who created the paintings that you see before you, has studied their techniques for many years. As time went by, light permeated not only his paintings by also his life, becoming his sole philosophy.