Ferdinand van Kessel the Elder (Flemish, 1648-1696) Cats, Monkeys, and an Owl Making Music unsigned oil on copper 11 1/4 x 14 3/4 in. (28.6 x 37.5 cm.) framed 19 1/4 x 22 in. (48.9 x 55.9 cm.) Footnotes: Provenance Catherine C. Huntington; Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, Old Master Paintings, 12 June 1975, Lot 109; Schaeffer Gallery, New York, acquired from the above; Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, Important Old Master Paintings, 13 January 1978, Lot 115; Sotheby's, New York, Old Master Paintings, 11 January 1996, Lot 226; Acquired by the current owner from the above. Literature Lerner, Sandy. Caticons: 4,000 Years of Art Imitating Cats, Ayrshire House Publishing, 2017, p. 227, illustrated. The present work follows the composition invented by David Teniers the Younger, the original of which is now in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich (inv.nr. 815). The subject composition depicts a satirical subject that was popular among seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish artists. Depictions of animals mimicking human behavior served as metaphors for human folly and vanity, exposing the shortcomings of mankind through allegory. In this example, a literal 'cats' chorus' produces a screeching cacophony, gently satirizing the lack of self-awareness often found in humans. While the composition presents itself as a characteristic Low Country domestic scene, it also conveys a deeper message. Condition reports are not provided in catalog descriptions. The absence of a condition report does not guarantee that the lot is in good condition or free from damage and wear. We encourage you to request a condition report and/or additional photos prior to bidding on any lot. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing