Trouble Among The Kitties, Brunel Neuville Late 19th Century

Trouble among the kitties
Oil on canvas, signed lower left
Vintage frame in carved gilded wood
Frame dimensions 76x66 cm

In a warm interior with an armchair covered in red velvet, three kittens are captivated - and annoyed - by the presence of a green ring-necked parakeet perched nearby. Mouth half-open, the ginger cat seems to express its displeasure and fear while its fellow cats oscillate between curiosity and alertness. The parakeet, for its part, remains on its guard, beak half-open, ready to retaliate. The whole makes up a lively scene halfway between animal comedy and naturalist observation.
Brunel de Neuville's brush captures expressions and attitudes brilliantly, in a carefully restored bourgeois setting. A late 19th-century cat painter,

Alfred Arthur Brunel de Neuville (1852-1941) distinguished himself with his depictions of cats and still lifes. His domestic scenes, always imbued with charm, were a great success with the public of his time. Here, he introduces an element of surprise and tension by contrasting the kittens with an exotic bird: a small, silent and amusing scene plays out in the hushed world of the living room.

Original oil on canvas, mounted on a stretcher bar. Very good overall condition. Antique gilt frame, in very good condition.