The Elliot Pl. 23, Fontanier’s Spotted Cat lithograph captures the agility and spirited demeanor of this feline species.
Printed on a large sheet of creamy 23 1/2” × 18 1/2” paper, the image is brought to life with vivid hand-applied color. An ideal gift for the cat lover in your life, this antique original lithograph will bring a sense of playfulness to any environment.
About Monograph Felidae or Family of Cats
Comprising 42 hand-colored lithographs, Daniel Giraud Elliot’s Family of Cats (1883) contains, according to Elliot, “those Beasts of Prey, which are the most perfect in organization, attractive in appearance, and terrible in destructive power.” The prints are imbued with personality and capture the graceful physiques, playful tendencies, and untamed charms common to members of the feline family. The congenial, grainy linework of the lithographic medium lends itself to the textural variation of the cat’s pelage. Similarly, a rich and varied color palette grounds the feline against its native habitat. Elliot’s monograph was instrumental in defining the species included in the family Felidae.
About Daniel Giraud Elliot
The artwork of the renowned 19th-century zoologist Daniel Giraud Elliot includes a monograph on the Family of Pheasants, Birds of Paradise, and Family of Cats. These lusciously colored lithographs present the animals and birds enmeshed in their natural environments. As a result of his independent wealth, Elliot spared no expense in the creation of his folios and used costly materials such as gold leaf to capture the glistening iridescence of the birds. Consequently, the costly productions were primarily obtained by only the most affluent individual and institutional clientele. In addition to his artistic works, Elliot cultivated a prolific literary career and was instrumental in developing ornithological societies and natural history institutions in America.
For more information about Elliot Pl. 23, Fontanier’s Spotted Cat, email us at [email protected] or check out our articles What is a Lithograph? A Practical Guide to Understanding and Identifying Lithographic Prints and Evolving Impressions – Unfolding the History of Prints as Art Objects and Collectibles.
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