The pictures of cats below come from four different traditions. The first picture is a study of cats by Thomas Gainsborough, Six Studies of a Cat from around 1770.

The second picture is Cat's Rendevous by Edouart Manet.

The third picture is an ancient Egyptian bronze statue, the Sacred Cat of Bast. It was made around the 6th century BC.

The fourth picture is a drawing from the late 19th century, the Tournee du Chat Noir (Turn of the Black Cat) by Theophile Alexandre Steinlen.

Picture 1: Six Studies of a Cat (Gainsborough)


Picture 2: Cat's Rendevous (Manet)


Picture 3: The Sacred Cat of Bast


Picture 4: Turn of the Black Cat (Steinlen)