The Arrest of the Cat, Flemish School, Late 18th Century

The Arrest of the Cat, oil on canvas, follower of Teniers, late 18th century.

Dimensions: 71 × 50 cm, with frame: 81 × 60 cm.

“The Arrest of the Cat” is a moral allegory depicting human failings through the behavior of animals.

This composition belongs to the genre of singeries (monkey scenes), which was highly popular in the Netherlands from the 17th century onwards. The scene depicts a gathering of anthropomorphic monkeys, dressed in the fashion contemporary to the artist, assembled in a guardroom. At the center of the composition, several figures appear to be carrying out the arrest or trial of a character, in a satirical scene inspired by human society.

This later version, painted at the end of the 18th century, illustrates the enduring taste for imaginative subjects inspired by Flemish painting and for moralizing scenes inherited from Teniers. The quality of execution, the balance of the composition, and the theatrical atmosphere make it an interesting example of the reception of Flemish painting in the late 18th century.