4547 - "Under Mother’s Watchful Eye"

"Under Mother’s Watchful Eye" on a red carpet, an exasperated-looking mother cat with her four kittens: two are fighting, one is asleep, and another is lying on a box, a copy of a work by the Belgian painter Charles H. van den Eycken (1859-1923), reproduced here with slightly altered details (cf. Bonhams Auctions, 16 April 2008, Lot 39); this painting, in turn, draws on a motif frequently used by Henriette Ronner-Knip (1821-1909), oil on canvas, early 20th century, dated 1906 in the lower left-hand corner, partially illegible monogram ‘C.M. [...]’ in the lower right-hand corner, craquelure, retouching, frame showing minimal wear, inner dimensions 35 x 56 cm.