17TH-CENTURY REALISM MEETS 20TH-CENTURY TELEVISION in "Joseph's Bloody Coat Brought to Jacob" (1630) by Diego Velázquez, now appearing in a really good exhibit at The National Gallery in London. The painting depicts Joseph's jealous brothers cleverly (and guiltily) offering their father false evidence of his favored son's death. Only Jacob's canine companion, straight out of a scene from Lassie, seems to know what the real deal is. One can almost hear the spaniel yapping, "Ruff! Something smells suspicious! Ruff! Ruff!" Apparently, even the masters will indulge in melodramatic plot devices from time to time.