Animals in Paintings Doing Naughty Things!

Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1680-1755) the leading painter and designer for the Louis XV court has painted the fable by Jean de la Fonntaine from which the expression "a cat's paw" has apparently originated. 

It means that someone has been duped into doing something dangerous or difficult for someone else.  The monkey has persuaded the cat to reach into the fire to fish out hot chestnuts.  And while the monkey enjoys the chestnut it would seem that he is trying to decide if he can get the cat to fish out another one.  

Judging by the cat's expression I don't think that is going to happen.     

This fable may have been painted as a lesson for children?

But look at these two paintings by very different artists.  You have to wonder what they were thinking?  A joke? A political statement?

Luca Carlevarijs (1663-1730) has depicted The Arrival of the 4th Earl of Manchester, in Venice, September 22, 1707.  Judging by the painting it is a grand and momentous occasion.

But look closely at the dog near the group of people right of center!

 

Hmmmm ......!

And here, Emanuel de Witte (1617-1692) in his painting of the interior of a grand church Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam 1677 paints a dog happily relieving itself against a pillar. 

These details show life as it was - warts and all.   

Copyright Jennifer Gold 2016