Cats in Art: A Musical Gathering of Cats (van Kessel)

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 WikiGallery, here. Ferdinand Van Kessel, A Musical Gathering of Cats, c. 1670, Oil on canvas, 16" x 32", held in a private collection.

Zuffi calls this painting "Cats' Concert," and comments:

However, there is no doubt that the cat, unexpectedly, can produce a repertory of song  that is entirely worthy of respect....Nocturnal serenades (often interrupted by the hurling of some object on the part of exasperated, sleepless people) or furious fights reach very high decibel levels.  Van Kessel...depicts cats brilliantly in this painting.

 

 

Sure, cats can sing...about as well as I can.