Medieval cat paintings

Human beings are still working on the technology that will make us live forever. But while we wait for the discovery of the so-called fountain of youth, medieval cat paintings, there is still one surefire way to be immortal: get a creative person to create something in your likeness.

Ever tried to paint a cat? While they excelled at painting religious scenes, portraits of Royalty, and naked ladies, this particular type of pussy offered an altogether different challenge. There are a couple of reasons why these funny cats look as they do in the Medieval art depictions. One of them is that the primary purpose of these paintings was to translate the religious scripts to the illiterate bear in mind that there were relatively few people who could read - monks, priests, and the nobility , and the other, unnecessary details weren't so scrupulously painted. On the other hand, linear perspective , giving a painting depth, was not systemized until the Italian Renaissance. That's why the given ugly cats look so flat and slightly misshapen. While most of them have got the basic shape of a feline down to a reasonable tee in these cat illustrations, it is the face that seems to provide the biggest problem.

Medieval cat paintings

Internet is filled with adorable cat photos, but there was a time before the modern age when artists really struggled to make cats look cute. While medieval artists excelled at painting religious scenes and portraits of royalty, cats offered an altogether different challenge. It looks like the medieval painters never laid eyes on a cat. Scroll down to feast your eyes on ugly cat art gallery! So why were medieval artists so terrible at painting cats? Back in the medieval times, not everyone had access to the internet crazy, we know. Or maybe they were intentionally making cats look weird to mess with people. Artists are a mischievous bunch. They love screwing with people. If you enjoyed to look at ugly cats in medieval art, you can improve your morning coffee experience with ugly medieval cat coasters from Etsy. Please note that this site is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Etsy affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases. It would have been great to know where all these drawings originate — from what books and manuscripts etc, not to mention where they are kept. Perspective in art, shading, and depth of field developed during the Renaissance.

Please note that this site is reader-supported. Humans received the same kind of moral reflection as animals in medieval-era art. Medieval cat paintings we know cats to be cute and painfully adorable fur balls, the depictions of them in Medieval art are anything but flattering.

Have you ever been told in a history class to take everything with a grain of salt because we look at history through a modern lens? To artists during the medieval era, animals were seen as a reflection of society, and cats were a prime example of deviant behavior. Unlike dogs, these feudal feline friends could not be trained in loyalty—they simply came and went depending on who fed them. So, the rather odd appearance of the cats could be because they wanted their image to depict their poor societal behavior. Much of the animosity toward cats revolved around the dark forces. This is also where we get the black cat superstitions, dating back to the 12th century. For example, consider this image of a cat from Scheibler Armorial, made in Germany around

Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Click to Skip Ahead. Are you interested in knowing which artists adored cats just like you? Instead, they painted on walls of tombs, palaces, and slabs of stone. Many cat paintings are dispersed throughout ancient Egypt since cats were worshiped as gods. One painting, in particular, is the hunting scene on the Tomb of Nebamun. This scene shows Nabamun hunting in the Nile marsh with a cat next to him, catching birds. The cat may represent the Sun God hunting the enemies of light and order.

Medieval cat paintings

When you think of art depicting cats, the first thing that probably comes to mind is ancient Egyptian art. Although cats have been popular subjects of painting for thousands of years, it is interesting to note how popular they were during the medieval period c. From the ugly to the comical, these cats were depicted in many ways and can be found in art across many cultures. Below, we list some of the most famous Medieval cat paintings for you to explore! The ancient Egyptians held great respect for cats, as they were considered sacred. They included them in relief sculpture, papyri, tomb decorations, and the image of the cat even represented Bastet, the feline god of Egypt.

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Analysis March 6, Norman Rockwell, Explained An overview of the life and paintings of artist Norman Rockwell and an in-depth analysis of the impact of his work on American culture, including his "Rockwellesque" style, starting in Poets and writers immortalized the loves of their lives on the pages of their works, artists painted their loves onto canvases, and musicians penned love songs that we still sing along to, to this day. Recent Posts. So why were medieval artists so terrible at painting cats? While medieval artists excelled at painting religious scenes and portraits of royalty, cats offered an altogether different challenge. They chose or were forced to paint this way for religious reasons. If you enjoyed to look at ugly cats in medieval art, you can improve your morning coffee experience with ugly medieval cat coasters from Etsy. The cats were used as symbols for human state of mind, therefore it makes sense to grant them a human face. They can be loyal and very loving. Unfortunately, not all artistic expressions were flattering for those who were painted into a picture. It looks like the medieval painters never laid eyes on a cat. Have you ever been told in a history class to take everything with a grain of salt because we look at history through a modern lens? Or maybe they were intentionally making cats look weird to mess with people. Artists like Van Gogh and Picasso frequently painted self-portraits. Human beings are still working on the technology that will make us live forever.

Practical yet feared creatures, cats were great for catching mice, but people also believed they carried evil around with them.

I have a cat with a human face, I like to give him lots of space. Whether tragically unrequited or happily ever after, many greats throughout history have created a way through which a person can be remembered forever. One of them is that the primary purpose of these paintings was to translate the religious scripts to the illiterate bear in mind that there were relatively few people who could read - monks, priests, and the nobility , and the other, unnecessary details weren't so scrupulously painted. To artists during the medieval era, animals were seen as a reflection of society, and cats were a prime example of deviant behavior. Seeing these felines in all their different incarnations is a delight! The medieval focus on prioritizing morality in visual works gave way to this kind of interpretation, much like why medieval cats are not painted under a lens of realism. Watch the video below where it gives the full explanation for why cats in Medieval paintings were less than adorable:. With a six-pack and a full head of hair, thus giving way to Homunculus Jesus. Internet is filled with adorable cat photos, but there was a time before the modern age when artists really struggled to make cats look cute. An overview of the life and paintings of artist Norman Rockwell and an in-depth analysis of the impact of his work on American culture, including his "Rockwellesque" style, starting in Instead of the cute kitten features we all know and love, the artists instead appear to favor a grim, almost human-like look that makes these cat paintings look a bit, well, scary. Artists like Van Gogh and Picasso frequently painted self-portraits.