This One Of A Kind 1891 Cat Painting Has A Strange History To Go With It's High Price Tag
Sotheby's, a global art business which serves "discerning" clients is about to sell what may be the world's largest cat painting. However, that's not the weird part of the story when you consider it's going for an asking price between $200,000 and $300,000. But, that's not even the weirdest part about this painting when you consider this was created for a woman who owned a neighboring number of cats.
Okay, let's back up for some context. Dating back to the late 19th century San Francisco philanthropist and art collector Johnson had an obsession for her feline friends, and considering she was wealthy she commissioned Austrian immigrant Carl Kahler to paint this furry masterpiece in 1891.
How can you remember that many names and faces? 350, all under one roof.
And was sold in 1893 after Johnson's death. That's just a few years after she had her beloved painting commissioned–how sad.
That's probably because Kahler took three years just to sketch all of the cats before beginning to paint the canvas.
Essentially, this is more appreciation than the internet has given or will ever give cats. Instagram pictures and other countless galleries and articles don't hold a candle to this woman's adoration for her feline companions.Â
Considering all these backstories, the intricate details and massive size of the painting it's no wonder that Cat Magazine called it "the world’s greatest painting of cats" in 1949.
In 2002, Boston's Skinner Auctioneers hosted the world's first all-cat art auction and the painting was up for an asking price of $450,000 to $750,000. It didn't sell back then, but maybe now with a lowered price it'll find a feline loving home, which also appreciates extraordinary art.