I have been more than usually obsessed with cats in the last week, mostly in the nature of keeping my hands away from their teeth. My cat bite is healing very well and the whole episode is starting to feel like a bizarre dream.
But for lack of any other blog ideas today, I went in search of Regency cats, or cats that appear in Regency art.
The first is by Gillray and is called Harmony Before Matrimony. Near a scene of blissful courtship is a little foreshadowing–two cats fighting. It was somewhat reminiscent of my cat attacking my hand. Put my hand in the place of the cat on the floor.
The next print is called Pluie de Chats. It is raining cats and dogs!
My third depiction of cats in Regency art doesn’t come from the Regency but rather is a depiction of the Regency from around 1900 by Marcus Stone whose art you see often on Regency bookcovers. This one is called End of the Story.
This one shows a typical reading experience for even today. If I’m reading, I’m very likely to have a cat trying to distract me.
If you need to waste some time (and who among us, especially those of us with deadlines, doesn’t need to waste time?) here’s a Cats in Art board on Pinterest.
That’s all for today, folks!
But weigh in…are you a cat person, a dog person, or both?
My name sort of gives it away lol but actually I’m an animal person. I’ve had two wonderful dogs. About 25 years ago a mother cat showed up on my back porch with 3 kittens and I’ve been taking care of ferals and strays ever since. I have 5 inside at the moment (have had 7) and care for 2 permanent outside cats and various other cats (and wildlife such as raccoons and possums lol). Love the prints, especially the last one.
I love that last one, too. That’s why I included it!
Catslady, all I can say is get medical care if any of those cats or creatures bite you!
Definitely a cat person, but several family members and friends have dogs and I have come to really appreciate their many great points… we also have therapy dogs who come to our work (public library), and they are the SWEETEST things. They are so devoted and loyal and enthusiastic. I am just too lazy to own a dog. 😉
Me, too, Mary. I like dogs in theory, but you have to walk them….
Wonderful post, love the paintings! I am definitely a cat person, and mum to one very special moggy. She’s a little angel in a black fur coat, wearing white mittens.
Ohhhh, your moggy sounds so sweet. One of my cats is a “tuxedo” cat – very Sylvester-looking.
I like dogs and cats. Tea and coffee. Wine and beer. I am sadly undiscriminating. In my defense, I’m also easy to please.
Undiscriminating? I’d say you were very inclusive!! Not a bad thing to be.
I love cats of all kinds and other people’s dogs:-) Like Mary, I am probably just too lazy to own a dog. My husband and kids keep clamoring for one, but I know who will take care of it in the end. We have 2 cats at the moment, but I had 5 when I met my husband and he had to decide if I was the “crazy cat lady” or just a lady with a big heart.
It is hard to say how many cats makes one a “cat lady.” I suspect it is more than 5, though!
I’m a dog person. I like the old paintings showing farm animals like cows and sheep. Oh, and horses too.
There are some lovely images of dogs from the Regency, too. I think Regency people were dog people, not cat people…
Cat person!!!! Never had a dog, but do like them. I have a couple of gorgeous cats now. Two girls called Charlotte & Chloe. In the past I had more cats and a hamster called Brownie. Who liked to eat cake, just not brownies… A sensitive soul I suspect 🙂
Awww, I never had a hamster. I always thought they were a cat’s playthings!!!
I’m definitely a cat person. My cat and I have things in common. We’re both introverted. She loves chicken and chicken’s my favorite meat. She eschews vegetables. I dislike vegetables and eat only enough of them to stay healthy. If she were left on her own, she would be able to survive. I consider myself very self-reliant. My cat likes being our one and only cat; I like my husband being my one and only man. My cat occasionally drives us crazy. This may be our only difference. If I drive anyone crazy, I don’t hear about. I used to have three cats. Believe me, there was no insanity deficit at our house!
I have three cats, I should say, and they all hate each other. I always wanted cats who cuddled up together and who licked each other. Mine just hiss at each other.
Dogs and horses. Life is better with both. We have feral cats I call our self-moving lawn ornaments. They’re fun.