Sunday, October 6, 2013

Cats in Art: Texan Lynx (Audubon)

From my continuing weekly Sunday series of cats in art. Currently I'm turning for a few weeks to John James Audubon.


Image credit here, Texan Lynx, John James Audubon.

If you recall from the previous posts in the Audubon series, Audubon is much better known for his stunningly beautiful paintings of birds. Per Wikipedia, "His major work, a color-plate book entitled The Birds of America (1827–1839), is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed."

What many folks don't know is that Audubon also set out to depict all North American quadrupeds (primarily four-footed mammals). His three-volume The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, published in 1845, contained this illustration.

This image to me is quite odd, strange in the same sense like the one of the bobcat that introduced this 4-part series, here.  While that cat looked psychotic and demonic, this one is just focused on licking its privates.  In both cases, not a very graceful pose to adorn what was meant to be a comprehensive rendering of the animals of North America.

All in all, Audubon kinda struck out in his kitty art.

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