Carl Kahler (NY/California/Australia/Austria, 1855-1906) oil on canvas painting depicting a green-eyed black and white Persian cat and grey striped kitten, both posed on a red velvet chair or loveseat, with table and glass vase beside it. Housed in the original gilt carved wood frame. Signed lower left corner. Sight - 31 1/2" H x 47 1/2" W. Framed - 34 3/4" H x 51" W. Provenance: Private Knoxville, TN collection. Biography: Austrian born Carl Kahler studied at the Munich Art Academy and in Paris and specialized in painting figures, particularly animals. In 1886 he traveled to Australia, where he gained fame for three works depicting scenes of the 1885 Derby Day at the Flemington Racecourse in Australia. He died in the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Kahler's most famous pet portrait, "My Wife's Lovers," was commissioned by Kate Birdsall Johnson of San Francisco in 1891 and exhibited at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The massive 6 x 8.5 foot canvas depicts more than 30 cats and is regarded as one of the greatest cat paintings ever made (source: The Portland Art Museum, Askart, Edan Hughes "Artists in California, 1786-1902). (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)

Overall very good condition with painted edge visible at top. Slight buckling in upper right corner with small pin hole 1 1/2" from top. Black light reveals uneven varnish, but no inpainting or alterations.