The monkey and the cat,
oil on canvas, 120.5 x 168 cm, framed

Provenance:
Private collection, Lombardy

The present painting depicts one of the famous moralistic fables of Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1695), “The Monkey and the Cat”, probably in turn derived from Aesop´s fables. According to this story, the two mischievous animals decide to steal some chestnuts that are roasting on the fire but, in order not to burn his paws, the monkey manages to convince the conceited cat to pick up the chestnuts and pass them to him. However, they are surprised by a servant and the cat fails to eat a single chestnut. The painting shows the moment when the girl enters the kitchen, observed by another figure at the window, while the monkey is holding the paw of the cat, pretending to help him remove the chestnuts from the fire. The duck in the centre foreground with outspread wings does not appear in the story and recalls the many paintings of game that were popular in Rome during the 17th century.

This present painting belongs to a Caravaggesque artist and can be included in the group of works attributed to the so-called Pseudo-Salini, one or more artists who imitated the manner of the Roman artist Tommaso Salini well beyond his death in 1625, continuing the successful style of painting that he initiated, depicting not only subjects with figures but also still-lifes and scenes of young people with animals, as in this case. For a long time, this varied production was attributed to Salini himself and debate is now ongoing over naming this anonymous painter or group of painters.