The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

September 29, 2013

September 29, 1518

Some people guess that Tintoretto was born on September 29, 1518. His death date is more certain: May 31, 1594. Tintoretto was a famous Renaissance Italian painter. He was younger than Titian (who died 1576) but both were born and worked near Venice. Both painters positioned cats in their respective versions of the "Supper at Emmaus", which topic was an appearance of the resurrected Christ to his disciples. The similarity means probably that cats were a part of the background in Italian homes, not even pets necessarily. But it is interesting that Tintoretto also put a cat in his version of "The Last Supper." 

"Supper at Emmaus" by Tintoretto (1540).

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUr5L9_Eb7jtN2JqFZD-SlLIxSid8oQylNt9TiAgqREwTWWQ369O3DjF6yCsqW_GrNYWXzOyiN8ELRICXH-QZk06eYmgh3YM282RxPg66aGUtHqTq1_iJj9zkNu3twHJ1Ob9UbkrV1RyE/s1600/Tintoretto-emmaus.jpg

The cat is in the lower left hand corner. 

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