Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné
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23.0 Children and Pets
A traditional theme in genre painting, but also seen in children’s portraits, are children interacting with their pets. Pets, then and now, were given to children to encourage responsibility and even empathy toward other creatures. Pictures in the theme Maine Haylofts (13.7) also include children and pets. —PH
Hills no. 23.0.2
Baur no. 106
Girl and Pets
Alternate titles: A Child's Menagerie; Girl and Pets (No. 2); Girl with Pets; Interior; The Fish Bowl
1859
Oil on canvas
10 x 12 in. (25.4 x 30.5 cm)
Signed and dated lower left: E. Johnson 1859
Private collection, New Hampshire
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Description/Remarks
Hills opinion letter, 1994: "The girl sits calmly with a serene face, mesmerized by watching the drama unfolding of the cat watching the three goldfish. At the same time the cage holding the two guinea pigs inside has its door open, making them subject as well to the cat's curiosity."
Provenance
Private collection, May 16, 1984
Private collection, New Hampshire
References
Baur, John I. H. An American Genre Painter: Eastman Johnson, 1824–1906. Brooklyn, NY: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, 1940. Exhibition catalogue (1939 Brooklyn Museum), p. 64, no. 106, as Girl and Pets (No. 2).
Hills Examination/Opinion
Examination date(s): 1992-04-17; 1994-09-17
Examination notes: 1992-04-17: A smaller and later version of 25.0.1. Cat larger here than in earlier work; plaster falling off wall behind has a different shape. Girl—mesmerized by watching the pets. Cat watches three goldfish; guinea pigs (ears are short—therefore not a rabbit). Cage door open. Parrot—green with red at shoulder. Note ax on ledge coming out from brick chimney. Pale blue highlights on grill of cage opening—also back rest of chair. Pitcher next to hair. Large ring handle on floor (trap to basement) feet crossed. Thin paint where halftones are: e.g., hair line near ear. Thin paint—door and wall behind her. Well shaped lips.
1994-09-17: Background—Christmas cactus? Blue highlights on cage wires.
1994-09-17: Background—Christmas cactus? Blue highlights on cage wires.
Related work
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Record last updated August 20, 2021. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Hills, Patricia, and Abigael MacGibeny. "Girl and Pets, 1859 (Hills no. 23.0.2)." In Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné. www.eastmanjohnson.org/catalogue/entry.php?id=347 (accessed on December 2, 2024).