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, there is still one surefire way to medieval cat paintings immortal: get a creative person to create something in your likeness.

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.

Medieval cat paintings

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. 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. I guess the drawings do prove, though, that we have been obsessed with sharing cat memes since way before the internet!

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 Jesslyn Low. The deterrence toward cats and their mischievous behavior did not stop at medieval cat paintings.

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

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.

Medieval cat paintings

Curiosity kills the cat, but cracks up the modern-day artist when it comes to reviewing some funny and interesting representations of cats in art history. Art is subjective and more often than not, artists are imperfect too. The Middle Ages are often associated with European civilizations that emerged after the collapse of the Roman Empire and lasted until the 15th century. This period can be understood as the trial-and-error period in art history where people were beginning to form an understanding of art as well as an appreciation of it outside of the realm of religious purposes. The Medieval era is also understood as the Dark Age, which was essentially a period where Europe experienced a loss of power. The Medieval period was also a time when hierarchy provided safety for the people and information was very much controlled. The function of pets in Medieval society was more related to serving a purpose rather than affection. Many people domesticated dogs for protection and to safeguard their homes while others domesticated cats for killing mice. Cats were first domesticated in the Middle East more than 10, years ago and have since been the source of artistic exploration for many aspiring creatives.

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While medieval artists excelled at painting religious scenes and portraits of royalty, cats offered an altogether different challenge. Artists like Van Gogh and Picasso frequently painted self-portraits. This article will celebrate the long history of textile works through three lesser-known Humans received the same kind of moral reflection as animals in medieval-era art. What is the cat ruler of? 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. 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. They lived on in the works of their creative partners. Follow us on Google News! The deterrence toward cats and their mischievous behavior did not stop at art. Share Share Link.

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From the similarity some of these cats have to human faces I would say that the artists did use humans as models. I have a cat with a human face, I like to give him lots of space. Human beings are still working on the technology that will make us live forever. Perspective in art, shading, and depth of field developed during the Renaissance. 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 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. SKM: below-content placeholder. Watch the video below where it gives the full explanation for why cats in Medieval paintings were less than adorable:. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. With a free ArtRKL membership, you will receive the first look at published articles, the newest updates on what we're up to, and NFT drops. 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. Taylor Hunt. Ever tried to paint a cat? Follow us on Google News! Their sometimes deformed faces and beady eyes were used to draw distinctions between heresy and religious faith and strengthen arguments that cats were a portrayal of dark, devilish magic.