Paintings of Cats - Cat Info Detective

Paintings of Cats

Skye Blake-updated, white background

Greetings, fellow art lovers! It’s Skye Blake back again… This time it’s all about great artists whose paintings reveals the fun, beautiful, and sometimes weird world of cats!

paw prints coming in from a distance

This is a fun page and more will be added as I hunt down artists and great cat pics.

Join the hunt by sending clues to new cat art we don’t yet have listed.

It can even be art made by cats! Check this out… Paintings by cats | Best Friends

ArteSuTela Konstantin Razumov – My Little Kitten 2
My Little Kitten 2 by Konstantin Razumov (1974–)

Some artists combine various styles, develop new ones, proving that creativity isn’t limited to “coloring inside the lines”.

Who Is Skye Blake?

Skye Blake-updated, white background

Skye Blake, Cat Info Detective, is a curious cat researcher (not an artist) who sniffs out expert, reliable sources about cats, reviews their information, then passes it on to you! 

Each page has a list of sources at the bottom if you want to investigate further.

Cat Art From the Distant Past

While these aren’t paintings, they’re the few remaining portrayals of cats from these early times.

Anything not carved in stone has long since perished.

prehistoric engraving of two cats fighting at Matkhandoush
The Fighting Cats: Rock Engraving From Wadi Metkhandoush Natural Museum, Libya (temehu.com)

The official European time periods of art start in the Romanesque Period with the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, circa (“about”) 1000-1150 A.D.

Cat Paintings – Pre-Romanesque Times (before 1000 A.D.)

Cat sitting under chair
Cat under chair, carved in relief
204px-Sigolsheim,_romanesque_relief_head_of_scary_cat.jpg (204×240)
relief head of scary cat, Sigolsheim, France
Egyptian painting with cat
Cat in fowling scene in tomb of Nebamun
Lintel on carrer del Llop (now Pujada de Sant Martí), 13th century, Girona Provincial Government Art Collection

Paintings & Illustrations in Medieval Times with Cats

(circa 1000-1700 A.D.)

These are illustrations drawn and colored by hand.

Cats were often shown with human faces in human situations.

Animals were often included in paintings to symbolize good or evil.

Detail from Ghirlandaio's 1480 fresco "The Last Supper" - art
Detail of Cat in Last Supper fresco, 1486, Refectory, San Marco, Florence, Italy, Ghirlandaio, Domenico (1448-1494)
The Garden of Earthly Delights (detail), by Hieronymus Bosch, 1490–1510. Prado Museum.
Detail from The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, 1490–1510 (Dutch/Netherlandish, 1450-1516) Prado Museum
Bernardo Luini's Supper photo
The Last Supper showing a cat at the feet of Judas, Luini, Bernardini (Italian, 1482-1532)
Youngster Painting - The Birth Of John The Baptist by Tintoretto
The Birth of John the Baptist (1554)Tintoretto (born “Jacopo Robusti”, Venetian/Italian, 1518-1594)
Page of sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1513–18, pen and ink with wash over black chalk, showing cats in well-observed, naturalistic postures.
Page of sketches by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1513–18, (Italian 1452-1519), study of cats in natural positions

European Paintings with Cats (circa 1700-1900 A.D.)

During the “Age of Enlightenment” painters began portraying their subjects more realistically rather than symbolically.

Out of it came some great paintings and artistic styles.

During the Victorian Age (1837-1901), cats were very popular in both portraits and illustrations.

Here are only a few examples of the many images of these prolific artists.

Girl with a cat
Girl With a Cat, by Giacomo Ceruti (“Il Pitocchetto”), Italian, 1698-1767)
A GIRL WITH  A KITTEN 1745 FRENCH PAINTING BY JEAN BAPTISTE PERRONNEAU REPRO
A Girl With a Cat, 1745, by Jean-Baptiste Perronneau (French, 1715-1783)
White angora cat chasing a butterfly, by Jean Jacques Bachelier (French, 1724-1806), Musée Lambinet
A Young Girl and a White Cat
A Young Girl and a White Cat, Bail, Antoine Jean (French, 1830-1918)
The Angora Cat (Le chat angora)
The Angora Cat (Le chat angora) by Marguerite Gerard
In the Boudoir, Lucius Rossi (Italian, 1846 – 1913)
Expectations by William Banks Fortescue (1850-1924)
Immodest by Henriette Ronner
Immodest by Henriette Ronner-Knip
The Jewel Box by Charles van den Eycken (Belgian, 1859-1923)
Kittens 1893
Kittens by Charles van den Eycken (Belgian, 1859-1923)
Two Kittens on a Pillow by Henriette Ronner-Knip (Dutch, 1821-1909)
Two Kittens on a Pillow by Henriette Ronner-Knip (Dutch, 1821-1909)
portrait of child with cat sitting nearby - old master - art
Julie Manet also known as Child with Cat by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French 1841-1919) 1887, Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France
 A Rival Attraction, by Charles Burton Barber (British, 1845–1894)
Playful Kittens
Playful Kittens, Sidney Lawrence Brackett (1852-1910)

European Paintings & Illustrations with Cats

(circa 1850-1950 A.D.)

During the late Victorian period and into the early 20th century, many new art styles came into being. Each is interesting in its own way and reflects the times in which the artists lived.

Franz Marc - Two Cats, Blue and Yellow, 1912
Two Cats, Blue and Yellowby Franz Moritz Wilhelm Marc 1912 (German 1880-1916), Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland
Cat catching a bird, 1939 - Pablo Picasso
Cat Catching a Bird by Pablo Ruiz Picasso 1939, (Spanish 1881-1973) Musée Picasso, Paris, France
Théophile Alexandre Steinlen (1859-1923), 1896, Tournée du Chat Noir, Lithograph, Paris
The Chat Noir Théophile Alexandre Steinlen 1896, (Swiss/French 1859-1923), Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Paul Klee modern art print of a Tom Cat
Tom Cat by Paul Klee (1879-1940)
Raminou by Suzanne Valadon, ca_ 1920
Raminou, 1920 by (Marie-Clémentine) Suzanne Valadon (1865-1938)
Marc Chagall _ Le Poète (1949 - 1950)
La Poete, Marc Chagall 1949/50 (Russian/French 1887-1985)
Cats Bachelor Party, Vintage Louis Wain
The Bachelor’s Party, Louis Wain (English 1860-1939)
The cat -Bart van der Leck, 1914
The Cat by Bart van der Leck 1914, (Dutch 1876-1958), Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands
The Deceitfulness of Riches, Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale (1872-1949)
Pierre Bonnard _ Le chat blanc (The White Cat) (1894)
The White Cat by Pierre Bonnard 1894 (French 1867-1947), Musée d’Orsay, Paris, France
Bouquet and a Cat by Marie Clementine Valadon
Bouquet and a Cat by Marie Clementine Valadon
Cat With Red Fish by Henri Matisse
Cat With Red Fish by Henri Matisse (1869-1954)

Louis Wain – Prolific Illustrator of Cats (1860-1939 A.D.)

Paintings of Cats (circa 1950-2021 A.D.)

The latter half of the 20th century saw many new artists and creative paintings of the feline form.

All kinds of media were, and still are, being used in fun and interesting ways.

Here are only a few of many samples, some of which are from artists currently active. Their love of, and fascination with, us fabulous felines is quite evident!

Oriental Paintings of Cats (Chinese, Japanese, etc.)

There are lovely paintings of felines done during various time periods from countries such as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Here are a few examples…

Utagawa Hiroshige II
A White Cat Playing with a String
Date:1863
Utagawa Hiroshige II
A White Cat Playing with a String, 1863
The Black Cat, Min Zhen
Cats and Sparrows, Byeon Sangbyeok, Joseon Dynasty, early 18th century

The Internet Explosion of Cats (circa 1995-present)

social media companies-blue

The invention of the internet opened up great doors for painters, illustrators and other artists who love the feline face and form.

Many amateur as well as professional artists now are able to show their work to millions of people who would otherwise never have the opportunity to see or buy prints of their work.

Cats are now found as graphics, memes, emojis, photos, traditional paintings, sculptures, figurines, and even selfies! We sure know how to take over the world!

More Cat Culture

If you love paintings of cats, you’ll love discovering more about us in “Cats In Art“.

There’s also much to discover in books, music and movies. Take a look…

Cats In BooksPoems About Cats – Find Ones You Love!
Music For CatsSongs About Cats – Discover Musical Treasures
Cats In the Movies

Sources

Sources used on this website are either primary or secondary.

Primary sources are always preferable and have the most reliable information because they’re original and directly referenced.

Scientific abstracts and data are good examples of primary sources.

Secondary sources are weaker because they usually consist of opinions or articles that give no sources of their own.

However, sometimes they refer to primary sources.

When I use secondary sources, most are those with some authority, such as veterinarian or cat behaviorist books and articles.

List of Sources

(Links below are for your information only. I make no money from them.)

10 Prehistoric Works Of Art And Their Stories“, by Joe Dunca, Listverse, December 11, 2018

15 Cats in Art History Every Cat Lover Would Love“, by Zuzanna STAŃSKA, DailyArt (dailyartmagazine.com), August 8, 2020

A-L

Femme Au Chat”, Painting by Armandine Jacquemet Soares, Artmajeur

art.com

Art Brut and Outsider Art Movement Overview“, TheArtStory

Art Periods – A Detailed Look at the Art History Timeline“, artincontext.org, September 15, 2021

The Cat Came Back: A More Than Mythical History – Part I“, by Gerald Hausman, Ancient Origins (ancient-origins.net), Updated September 25, 2016

Cats in Ancient Egypt“, by J Hill, Ancient Egypt Online, 2010

Charles H. Van den Eycken“, Reyhs Gallery, Inc.

Dreama Tolle Perry Art

The Great Cat, the Cat in History, Art and Literature

“Kat’y”, Peinture par Armandine Jacquemet Soares, Artmajeur

Katya Minkina Fine Art

“Libyan Sahara prehistoric rock art: history, discovery, periods, styles and sites“, Temehu.com

M-R

Mannerism Art – A Look at the Ins and Outs of the Mannerism Period“, artincontext.org, July 15, 2021

Marie Antoinette’s: 18th Century Cats in paintings“, by Lauren Puzier, mariegossip.com

Medieval Cat Paintings That Will Crack You Up (22 pics)“, acidcow.com, November 28, 2016

Naturalism – Concepts & Styles“, TheArtStory

Old Master Cats“, By Desmond Morris, Lapham’s Quarterly (laphamsquarterly.org), October 18, 2017

“The Quintessential Cat”, by Roberta Altman, Prentice Hall Macmillan Co., New York, NY, 1994

The Reason Medieval Paintings of Cats Were So Bad“, Cheddar Explains, YouTube, June 25, 2020

Romanesque” – Museu d’Art de Girona (museuart.cat)

S-Z

St Mary of the Angels Church Lugano – Chiesa Santa Maria Degli Angioli – Bernardino Luini Passion and Last Supper“, bargaintraveleurope.com

Sidney Brackett – Biography“, (askart.com)

File:Sigolsheim, romanesque relief head of scary cat.jpg” – Wikimedia Commons

Sophia Rodionov – Official Website (pixels.com)

Tintoretto – Legacy“, by Rodolfo Pallucchini, Britannica

Top 10 Cats in Classical Paintings“, The Meow Post Daily Cat Blog

Vittore Carpaccio – 53 artworks – painting” (wikiart.org)

Wikipedia.org

Updated July 7, 2023

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