In some of the earliest European paintings, the Fall of Man, the fable of the cat’s paw, in Vanitas paintings, and for their mischief and mayhem.
Landseer
More examples drawn from “Midsummer Night’s Dream”, and from “The Tempest”, that were exhibited at the Royal Academy and elsewhere.
Although not featured in classical myths, cats have several symbolic associations and their own fables. From a kept woman to a harem, and basking in the sunshine.
Examples of painted fables from the 19th century, from Landseer, Millet, Moreau, Klimt, Morisot, Hodler, and Pierre Bonnard.
Paintings of open fires and stoves from 1565 to 1884 show how we lived through the winter before central heating.
From Troyon’s farm animals going to market, through Queen Victoria’s favourite artist, African elephants in the wild, to monkeys, and cattle in the sunshine.
What could a jury possibly find bad or objectionable about Whistler’s finest painting? And after that mistake, how could a second jury get it so wrong too?
Independent and aloof, cats train their humans and think that they’re still large and ferocious. Paintings from Carpaccio to Bonnard.
In the nineteenth century, with the decline of patronage and changed art markets, fables become more popular among painter, at least before they gained patrons.
Landseer paints a La Fontaine fable; Bonnard, Corinth, and others complete the history.
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