The Monkey and the Cat
(1500-27)

Italian, late 17th, early 18th century

Oil on canvas

A charming painting depicting one of Aesop’s Fables (6th-cent BC) wherein the sly monkey has conspired to convince the cat to remove chestnuts from a fire at great pain to the latter. This fable was then included by the French poet, Jean De La Fontaine (1621-1695) in his books containing 230 animal tales.

H 36" x W 29"