Cats in Art: Allegories of Music and Prudence (Grien)

I'm really pressed for time this week so here's a repost of a couple Hans Grien images that garnered a lot of hits here when I posted it 3 years ago.  

As you view this, keep in mind that these were painted in 1525.  Let that sink in a moment: 1525.  That alone boggles the mind.

Enjoy!
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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Cats in Art: Allegories of Music and Prudence (Grien)

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 here.  Left image: Allegories of Music and Prudence (or Allegory of a Woman with Song Book, Viol, and Cat);  Right image: Allegory of a Woman with Mirror, Snake, and a Pair of Deer.  Hans Balding Grien, 1525, Oil on Wood. 

You must admit that these two images have an interesting assemblage of props, which the titles reflect.  Zuffi tells us that Grien often painted elegant female nudes in the company of symbolic animals.

Personally, I'm of course partial to the left image, as it contains one very large feline.  Grien, unfortunately, did not leave behind information as to what exactly the cat was to symbolize.