Cats in Art: The Sleep of the Infant Jesus (Le Brun)

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 Artfinder, here.  Charles Le Brun, The Sleep of the Infant Jesus, 1655, Oil on canvas, 34" x 46", held by The Louvre, Paris, France.

 

Zuffi comments:

 

A big, placid white-and-gray striped cat seems to have fallen asleep by the warmth of a burning brazier; however, it is not quite asleep, for its ears are pricked up.

 

A cat is always aware of its surroundings.  In this case, the cat is probably thinking, "I don't care if he is deity--Baby Jesus better not try to pet me."