The Favourite Cat and De La-Tour Painter

In this charming print, a portly gentleman, presumably the "De La-Tour Painter" of the title, sits comfortably, his attention entirely absorbed by a cat perched on his lap. The cat, with its wide, alert eyes, gazes out at the viewer, seemingly unfazed by the painter's focused intensity. This intimate scene, rendered in a combination of etching, engraving, and mezzotint, captures a moment of quiet domesticity. The artist, John Kay, often depicted everyday life and local characters in Edinburgh, and here he offers a glimpse into the personal world of an individual, perhaps even a fellow artist, and his beloved pet. The detailed rendering of the textures, from the painter's ruffled collar to the cat's fur, draws the eye into their shared space, suggesting a bond between human and animal.