Medieval cat paintings

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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.

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.

Artists are a mischievous bunch. Unlike dogs, these feudal feline friends could not be trained in loyalty—they simply came and went depending on who fed them.

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

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.

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.

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Back to blog. Other artists subtly included hidden self-portraits in their work as a way to tell their story, demonstrate their power, and claim Whether tragically unrequited or happily ever after, many greats throughout history have created a way through which a person can be remembered forever. In this work, the cat holds a crown on its head, its derpy face looking rather pleased with itself in its new position of power. Artists are a mischievous bunch. 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. Artists during this time were not interested in realism. The deterrence toward cats and their mischievous behavior did not stop at art. For example, consider this image of a cat from Scheibler Armorial, made in Germany around Take the cats of the Medieval era.

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As the church would often not allow painting humans realistically, just as a religious symbol of some kind, artists were searching for original reasons to paint from observation. Artists are a mischievous bunch. So why were medieval artists so terrible at painting cats? Much of the animosity toward cats revolved around the dark forces. 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. This is also where we get the black cat superstitions, dating back to the 12th century. Recent Posts. The deterrence toward cats and their mischievous behavior did not stop at art. The face, however deformed, has mischief written all over it. 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 They lived on in the works of their creative partners. Scroll down to feast your eyes on ugly cat art gallery! When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Watch the video below where it gives the full explanation for why cats in Medieval paintings were less than adorable:. Taylor Hunt.