Sunday, April 24, 2011

Cats in Art: The Family of Adam and Eve (Pourbus)

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art. I'm using some ideas from the coffee table book, The Cat in Art, by Stefano Zuffi.



Image credit here.  The Family of Adam and Eve, Frans Pourbus the Elder, c. 1570, Oil on wood, held by Residenzgalerie, Salzburg, Austria.

I guess the family consisted of Mom, Dad, 2 children, a goat, a dog, a monkey, 2 cows or such in the right rear...and of course, a cat.

Zuffi points out:

...the splendid figure of the large cat in the bottom right-hand corner--almost reclining, yet also vigilant and on the alert, its staring eyes focused on the big, gentle dog found at the opposite edge of the painting.

I don't think the cat is watching the dog.  Any cat worth his or her salt would be watching the monkey.  Duh.

 


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