a boston terrier wants you to come hither

image copyright and by kindest permission of heidi shaulis

New Jersey artist Heidi Shaulis paints a world where cats and other creatures live out their fantasies, even if it's just simple luxuriating on a sunny floor.  But they might pop up in a daring boat rescue, on a road trip, or eating fishy ice cream. All their little snapshots of being are created in rich, delicious color and sure brushwork. That's what made me stop and exclaim over this seductive Boston.
Ahh, that red up against the crisp Boston black'n'white.  Mmm, those eyes.  You can see more at her Etsy shop.  There's even more at her website.

go get 'em

courtesy wikipaintings.org; public domain

The year is 1783, the menswear is frankly awesome if you dig Adam Ant and I do, and dogs are amped and rarin' to go as they always are, no matter the century.  This is the great American/British portraitist John Singleton Copley, best known for pieces like his Paul Revere and Watson and the Shark.  Here he's brought us The Western Brothers - Charles and Shirley (yes, that's right) and their unnamed dog.  This is a tasteful portrait of two upperclass boys - Charles would become Baron Western of Rivenhall - but yet it's likeable, even jolly, thanks to the inclusion of their high-spirited pet.  

Copley is interesting to read about and will win your sympathy.  Read the Wikipedia page for him here.  There's a bit more on this painting here.

vintage photo time

thanks again ampersand

"Whitey, 1928."  Obviously whomever took this photo was flat out on the grass trying to get Whitey's attention, but nooo, perhaps Whitey was more interested in the sounds of banging coming from that big house being built a block away.  I'm including this photo in my upcoming Pet Museum eBook on cats, working title "Puss in Print."  (Shortly to be followed by "Pup in Print."  Whee!)

tender words on mice

From Our home pets: how to keep them well and happy, Olive Thorne Miller (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1894), pps. 250-253.
* * *
A winsome pet is the common brown mouse; and now I fancy I hear the most vigorous protests from my readers, who, though they do not shriek and take refuge on chairs and tables like Howells's feminine characters, still have a strong feeling of distaste to him. Nothing can be imagined more dainty, graceful, and altogether captivating than the tricks and manners of this humble resident within our walls. Once allay the poor little creature's fears of his big, clumsy, human proprietors, and his delightsome qualities are apparent. Frisky in movement, droll in conceits, and eccentric of action, he is a never-ending source of entertainment. Moreover, he is as teachable as the rat, absolutely neat in his ways, and most loving to his friends.
A singing mouse — which is not so great a rarity as one would suppose from the newspaper fuss that is sometimes made over one—has an added attraction as a pet. The singing is no doubt similar to that of the marmoset, and resembles the canary song a good deal smothered.

* * *

(Curator here) Twenty years ago I had a black pet mouse. Sadly enough, I can't remember her name, but I loved her.  She was a merry, friendly thing, and liked to show off for me on her wheel. . . .I can't resist adding the bit said about squirrels:

* * *

Some of the most pleasing pets are found among the rodents, the little fellows whose teeth are so troublesome and require so much looking after. There are the squirrels, to begin with. Every one is frolicsome, neat, easy to take care of, and altogether bewitching. A squirrel of any sort likes a warm bed, out of the reach of meddlesome children, plenty of nuts to eat, and liberty—for, like everybody else, he hates a cage. The gray squirrel is the most elegant of the tribe (unless we except the black, who is not so often seen), and he is intelligent and affectionate. The red squirrel is one of the most lively of a wonderfully active family, and is exceedingly inventive in pranks. The chipmonk [sp], though frisky enough, is said to be the least interesting of his race (what? No way - Curator), and the flying-squirrel is rather quiet for one of his kind, and entertaining only at night.

matouenpeluche brings you a delectable bunny

copyright and by kindest permission of the artist s. battersby

We have enjoyed matouenpeluche's work before here at the Museum.  I can't believe I waited this long to feature her again when her Etsy shop is full of such delights as this chubby "Bunny."  Look at the delicate pink of those ears!  Look at that compact body - you could pick it up and snuggle it like a 19th century Japanese ceramic handwarmer.
You can still find matouenpeluche's shop here.  Her blog is fun, too.

washing cats...don't try this at home!

copyright and by kindest permission of the artist

In a tiny paper universe Senorita Cara Carmina and her four cats have many adventures.  They go to the fish market, play hide and seek, and go on a hot air balloon ride.  So after all that excitement sometimes they need a wash.  Here's "Washing Cats," by Norma Andreu (the grown-up, real-life Cara Carmina), a Mexican artist now living in Montreal.  These dioramas are funny, inventive fantasies that make me laugh out loud and dream a bit about getting in there with them.  Look, here's some more at Norma's blog.  I adore how she makes these simple linear figures so rich in presence.  But this isn't all she does, so be sure and visit her website for a cheerful look around.  Would you like a photoprint or even your very own diorama?  Check out her Etsy shop.  I'm so delighted to close out my Friday night by spotting the fish in every cat scene!

a greyhound by durer

public domain, via wikipaintings.org

You know, I think Albrecht Durer (German: 1471-1528) shows in his animal portrayals the very earliest whisper of Romantic sensibility.  He's one of the names of the Northern Renaissance, so you expect cool observation and you get it.  He's picked out every joint, every nail, every furry bit.  But the look of yearning in this dog's eyes, as he looks up toward the unknown hand - it gets me every time, like the wary glistening in the eyes of his well-known hare.

While we're at it, here's another take on the traditional doggerel about the perfect greyhound:

The head like a snake;

The neck like a drake;

The back like a beam;

The side like a bream;

The tail like a rat;

The foot like a cat.

a dog miscalculates, a poet chuckles

From The Poets' Beasts by Philip Stewart Robinson:  the author pauses during a pages-long complaint on how some folks love their dogs far too much, and muses on a couple of comic verses where dog folly is pointed up if not outright celebrated.
* * *
. . . Yet the dog is a beautiful symbol, and though here and there individuals may exceed into Egyptian idolatry of the animal, it is as a type of courageous, self-forgetful friendship that the poets use it most justly.
Occasionally, too, they confess that the best of dogs may "from the path of duty err." As Somerville admits—

"He may mistake sometimes, 'tis true,
None are infallible but you;
The dog whom nothing can mislead
Must be a dog of parts indeed ;"

and as Eliza Cook delightfully illustrates in her address to the staghound Bran—

"You have strength of muscle and length of limb,
Your jaws are deep and your beard is grim,
Your fangs are strong and ivory white,
Your mouth is as black as a cloudy night.
'Tis pleasant to hear the wise ones utter
The worth of your power and pace;
But why did you swallow that pound of butter,
Dog of an ancient race?"

* * *
I believe the Eliza Cook to whom he refers is this one.  Selection from The Poets' Beasts, Philip Stewart Robinson (Chatto and Windus, 1885), p. 308.

a happy mother's day roar

thanks wikimedia commons (image in public domain)

I couldn't resist (my tiger obsession played right into my plans this morning).
This is Eugene Delacroix's 1830 oil "Study for Two Tigers," which has become known as "A Young Tiger Playing with its Mother." (In French, Jeune tigre jouant avec sa mère.) I'm not certain where Delacroix got a look at his tiger models, for he's shown them with elongated bodies and ratlike tails, to say nothing of the unusual narrow slope of their faces. The rich color and vivacity of the image is full-on Delacroix, though. Get a good look at that cub back there trying to get Mom's tail. His own is whipping around in the air while he bunnykicks his giant feet like any kitten. Mom, Mom, hey Mom! Mommmm!
Mom, meanwhile, is still drawing on all her tiger dignity, though you can see in her dark eyes - and that's a very impressive bit of painterly craft there - she's had it about up to here with these hijinks. Remember, that was your mom too once upon a time, so I hope you have sent her a nice haunch of antelope in honor of Mother's Day.

elizabeth: the early years

Courtesy of "Auntie Heather."  Long-lost, recently found pix of The Boss in 2007.

fin flies free xox

Oh, how sad I am to report that Fin of Housecat Confidential has crossed the Bridge.  She was one of our first and foremost blogfriends, and I miss her terribly.  Please drop on by and say a quick comforting word to Meg? 

rembrandt watches a puppy sleep

thanks wikipaintings.org; public domain

It's 1640, and Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn - that's Rembrandt to you and me - is practically nose to nose with a "Sleeping Puppy." (That's the title of this piece, go figure.) 
I'm almost hesitant to even start talking about Rembrandt, because he's such a towering figure in Baroque art.  But I will say that I find him the Baroque artist capable of the tenderest closeness with man and beast alike.  Look casually at a number of his works, whether paintings or etchings (at which he was a master, as you see here).  I will bet that you see many unguarded moments and expressions that normally are gone too fast to capture.  Plus, the sheer rich layers of work that go into Rembrandt's etchings are a pleasure in and of themselves.  I'll venture, here, that this pup was probably next to the fireplace, which is why his little head is so brightly lit, but the rest of him gradually is licked by shadows.  Is that a ribbon he was playing with, perhaps?

cats and musicians

I admit it:  I'm a solid fan of the Beastie Boys, and it's extremely sad to report that Adam Yauch - MCA - died yesterday after battling cancer for almost 3 years.  I was hoping to dig up a photo of him with a pet.  That didn't happen, but in the process here's some fun things I did find:

50 pictures of musicians their pets, from Pigeons&Plans.  Great snap of John Lennon nuzzling a Siamese, and Paul McCartney and Martha of "Martha My Dear" fame.
Billboard has some of the same shots in their Pop Pets: Musicians and their Furry Friends, but look anyway if only to see Cee-lo's awesome cat.
You like perhaps something more traditional?  Then Yale Libraries has something for you:  Musicians and Their Pets, in which you may see Benny Goodman with his kids and fuzzy dog, among other great photos.

By the way, one of my favorite cats-in-music video is the one scooting now and then through the Beasties' "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun."

stay warm, white mice

thanks wikimedia commons and the brooklyn museum

Shibata Zeshin (Japanese; 1807-1891) ran into some disapproval in his life for both being too Western and being too traditional in his artistic approach.  I suppose this is an example of the latter, but you won't find me complaining.  Quite the opposite.  It's unseasonably cold and gushy wet, and everyone here is huddled up in their most snuggly things (unless they're the pets, already snuggly), gazing beadily outside.  The sheer economy of Zeshin's line here is perfect; any more detail and you would be thinking, Look at the place with mice, not Oh, look at the pure white mice all cuddling.  See the one in the lower right?  He must be heading into the huddle.  You could grab his tail and get towed into it with him.  Go ahead.
Zeshin's name means something like "This is true" and I appreciate that when I see this perfect mouse pile.

"the angora cat" - a poem of victorian flirtation

Good pastry is vended
In Cite Fadette,
Madame Pons constructs splendid
Brioche and galette!

Monsieur Pons is so fat that
He's laid on the shelf,
Madame Pons had a cat that
Was fat as herself.

Long hair - soft as satin -
A musical purr -
'Gainst the window she'd flatten
Her delicate fur.

Once I drove Lou to see what
Our neighbours were at,
When, in rapture, cried she, "What
An exquisite cat!

"What whiskers!  She's purring
All over.  A gale
Of contentment is stirring
Her feathery tail.

"Monsieur Pons, will you sell her?"
"Ma femme est sortie,
Your offer I'll tell her,
But - will she?" says he.

Yet Pons was persuaded
To part with the prize!
(Our bargain was aided,
My Lou, by your eyes!)

From his legitime save him -
My fate I prefer!
For I warrant she gave him
Un mauvais quart d'heure.

I'm giving a pleasant
Grimalkin to Lou,
 - Ah, Puss, what a present
I'm giving to you!

-- Frederick Locker-Lampson, from A selection from the works of Frederick Locker-Lampson (London:  Edward Moxin & Co., 1865), p. 161-62.  This is a typically charming and light-hearted work, which is all the more delightful considering he was in poor health most of his life.