| The
discovery in 1990 of the c.3000 BC Aperia Cats, Etak and Tikk, with
their painted scrolls, was the first conclusive evidence that cat-marking
behavior was known and valued by the ancient Egyptians. The unravelled
scroll (right) shows clearly visible paw marks. |
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This mediaeval bestiary
illustration demonstrates the existence of 'painting' by cats in
the Middle Ages. Because cats were regarded as agents of the devil
during this period, they are depicted here as evil alchemists about
to transmute the caged bird and sleeping dog, prey and enemy of
the cat, into gold.
On Loan from Bodhead Library, Oxford.
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Cat-marking
behavior was trivialized in Victorian times, as this poster shows.
While Matissa certainly made marks with paint, Mrs. Broadmoore (in
reality a rather portly man dressed as a woman), amused the audience
by pretending that the cat's simple paintings were "pawtraits" of
people in the audience. |
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