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Lot Essay
Ronner is best known for her paintings of cats. As a descendant of a family of artists, she received her earliest tuition from her father Joseph Augustus Knip (1777-1847). During her early years she painted many subjects including genre scenes, landscapes and still lives. In 1850, she married Feico Ronner and they moved to Brussels where she was to live for the rest of her life.
In 1860, she executes a painting entitled La mort d'un ami which was highly acclaimed, establishing her reputation as a painter of dogs. For this painting she receives a Gold Medal at the Exhibit of Levende Meesters in The Hague. In 1862 she exhibits the same painting at the World Art Fair in London, hereby establishing an international name for herself. The Queen of Belgium commissioned her to paint two of her favourite lap-dogs in 1876 and the success of these works led to many more commissions. From 1870 onward, she chose to mainly paint cats, and this would remain her primary subject matter throughout her life. These domestic pets were often depicted in luxurious interiors, lying on silk cushions as is visible in the present lot.
From 1890 onward her palette lightens and her compositions become more sober. In 1896, the year the present lot was executed, Henriette Ronner has a solo exhibition at Francois Buffa & Sons and takes part in the exhibition 'Dutch Contemporary Masters' in St. Petersburg. Even after her death in 1909 at the age of 88, she remained a very highly respected artist.
The present lot shows a charming scene of two cats lying together on a sumptuous cushion. The serene quality of the subject in combination with the subtle contrast of green and pink combine to form an exceptional example of the artists mature work.
In 1860, she executes a painting entitled La mort d'un ami which was highly acclaimed, establishing her reputation as a painter of dogs. For this painting she receives a Gold Medal at the Exhibit of Levende Meesters in The Hague. In 1862 she exhibits the same painting at the World Art Fair in London, hereby establishing an international name for herself. The Queen of Belgium commissioned her to paint two of her favourite lap-dogs in 1876 and the success of these works led to many more commissions. From 1870 onward, she chose to mainly paint cats, and this would remain her primary subject matter throughout her life. These domestic pets were often depicted in luxurious interiors, lying on silk cushions as is visible in the present lot.
From 1890 onward her palette lightens and her compositions become more sober. In 1896, the year the present lot was executed, Henriette Ronner has a solo exhibition at Francois Buffa & Sons and takes part in the exhibition 'Dutch Contemporary Masters' in St. Petersburg. Even after her death in 1909 at the age of 88, she remained a very highly respected artist.
The present lot shows a charming scene of two cats lying together on a sumptuous cushion. The serene quality of the subject in combination with the subtle contrast of green and pink combine to form an exceptional example of the artists mature work.