EUROPEAN SCHOOL (19th century)
A Mother Cat with Kittens - circa1890
Oil on canvas
Signed lower left likely with pseudonym Mieschke-Smith(?)
13 x 18 inches (33 x 45.7cm). Overall, including frame original exceptional gilt frame 21.5 x 27 inches (54.2 x 68.6cm). Verso frame with label for noted gallery Wunderly Bros. Pittsburgh, PA.

The offered lot is clearly of the period of the frame which would appear to be original to the painting (circa 1890) and of the type of high-quality frames known to be used by Wunderly Bros. Because there appears to be no record of an artist by the name of Mieschke-Smith, it is likely a pseudonym used by one of the many noted cat painters of the day such as Henriette Ronner, Charles van den Eycken, Alfred Brunel de Neuville, or Daniel Merlin among many others.

Provenance:
Jackson’s International Auctioneers sale of December 15th 2005 as lot 26 and illustrated in auction catalog. Acquired at this auction by the late noted art collector Doctor Valarie Rodgers DDS (1951-2025 Morrison, Illinois, USA)

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Overall very good condition. The painting has been professionally relined, and is likely still on the original stretcher. The paint layer is stable with no signs of losses or lifting. UV Blacklight examination appears to reveal no restoration, or repairs. Contained in what is likely its original ornate vintage gilt frame in good condition with only a few minor losses.