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, 2021: The 1900 American Art Galleries catalogue refers to the figure as a boy; but it is more likely the artist's daughter Ethel, who would have been 10–11 years old when the work was painted and thus matching the age of the figure in the portrait. [See the image of Teaching Caesar, the other version of this painting.] The confusion is understandable, since it was the custom of the time to dress young children in outfits we would today identify as girls' clothing.
American Art Galleries sale catalogue, 1900: "A cat sits up in the corner of a sofa covered with a rich Oriental rug. A boy in a black blouse, with grey stockings, holds up his finger and teaches Pussy his manners. An attractive, well-painted genre picture."
- Portrait sitter families:
- Subject matter:
- Cats »