The cat

the long version

The cat's place in society has been reflected in art through the ages. Cats were deified by the ancient Egyptians, vilified by the medieval Church and then gradually rehabilitated during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Although cats do not always occupy center stage in paintings, they always add an extra symbolic dimension to a picture. This book examines the relationship between cats and humans from ancient times to the present, offering insight into the prominence of the cat in art in cultures worldwide. The collection of images draws from paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures.