Henriette Ronner-Knip (Dutch, 1821-1909) Playful Kittens signed Henriette Ronner (lower right) oil on panel 9 1/2 x 13 in. (24.1 x 33.0 cm.) framed 15 3/4 x 19 in. (40.0 x 48.3 cm.) Footnotes: Provenance Phillips, London, Fine 19th Century European Paintings & Watercolours, 16 November 1993, Lot 10; Acquired by the current owner from the above. Literature Lerner, Sandy. Caticons: 4,000 Years of Art Imitating Cats, Ayrshire House Publishing, 2017, p. 243, illustrated. Henriette Ronner-Knip (Dutch, 1821-1909) emerged as one of the nineteenth century's most celebrated painters of domestic animals, a career shaped as much by necessity as by talent. Her artistic training began under the guidance of her father, the painter Josephus Augustus Knip (1777-1847). After he lost his eyesight, he devoted himself to training her, recognizing that she would assume responsibility for supporting the family through her art. Ronner-Knip achieved early success when she exhibited at the annual art exhibition in Düsseldorf, where her painting of a cat seated at a window was sold. Although she initially painted a variety of animal subjects, she soon gained widespread recognition for her sensitive and finely observed depictions of dogs. Following her marriage and the birth of six children, her husband's poor health once again made her the family's principal provider. Her growing reputation attracted prestigious commissions from European royalty and nobility, including the Kings of Hanover, Prussia, and Portugal, Queen Marie Henriette of Belgium, and the Countess of Flanders, all of whom commissioned portraits of their beloved dogs. Around 1870, Ronner-Knip turned her attention increasingly to cats, a transition said to have been inspired by a stray cat that wandered into her home. The timing proved fortuitous. As cats became fashionable household companions among the expanding urban middle class, spurred in part by the first organized pedigree cat show at London's Crystal Palace in 1871, her charming and affectionate feline scenes found an enthusiastic audience. To facilitate her work, the artist maintained a special Louis XV glass cabinet in her studio, where cats and kittens could play and rest while she carefully observed and painted them from life. Today, Henriette Ronner-Knip's cat paintings remain among the most iconic animal portraits of the Victorian era. 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