Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit
125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists
The Guitar Lesson by Henriëtte Ronner-Knip
- Henriëtte Ronner-Knip ranks among the most celebrated painters of cats in nineteenth-century Europe
- The Guitar Lesson captures the charm and technical brilliance that made the artist renowned
- In this era, cats evolved from practical mousers into cherished household companions
- Ronner-Knip was born in Amsterdam into a distinguished family of artists and cat lovers
- Get complete item description here
To speak to one of our experts, call 1-888-711-8084
1821-1909 | Dutch-Belgian
The Guitar Lesson
Signed "Henriëtte Ronner" (lower right)
Oil on panel
Henriëtte Ronner-Knip ranks among the most celebrated painters of cats in nineteenth-century Europe. Painted in the 1880s, The Guitar Lesson captures the wit, charm and technical brilliance that made the artist internationally renowned. Her delightful feline scenes were eagerly collected across Europe and remain among the most sought-after examples of Victorian animal painting.
A lively. . .
1821-1909 | Dutch-Belgian
The Guitar Lesson
Signed "Henriëtte Ronner" (lower right)
Oil on panel
Henriëtte Ronner-Knip ranks among the most celebrated painters of cats in nineteenth-century Europe. Painted in the 1880s, The Guitar Lesson captures the wit, charm and technical brilliance that made the artist internationally renowned. Her delightful feline scenes were eagerly collected across Europe and remain among the most sought-after examples of Victorian animal painting.
A lively family of cats gathers around a guitar in an amusing parody of a music lesson. Their curious paws suggest that this practice session may be more mischievous than musical. Ronner-Knip renders each animal with remarkable individuality, using loose yet assured brushwork to convey the softness and texture of their fur.
Born in Amsterdam into a distinguished family of artists and cat lovers before settling in Brussels, Ronner-Knip became one of Europe's foremost painters of cats during the Victorian era. As cats evolved from practical mousers into cherished household companions, her affectionate portrayals perfectly reflected changing tastes among an increasingly prosperous middle class. Admired for combining meticulous observation with exceptional technical skill, she exhibited internationally and enjoyed royal patronage throughout her career. Today, her paintings reside in important museum collections, including the Rijksmuseum, which holds the closely related watercolor The Musicians, underscoring the enduring appeal of this delightful subject.
Circa 1880s
Canvas: 20 7/8" high x 27 7/8" wide (52.90 x 70.68 cm)
Frame: 29 1/2" high x 36 3/4" wide x 3 1/4" deep (74.93 x 93.35 x 8.26 cm)
Provenance:
Kunsthandel Buffa & Zonen, Amsterdam
Private collection, Amsterdam
Private collection, Amsterdam
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
| Maker: | Ronner-Knip, Henriette |
| Period: | 1816-1918 |
| Origin: | Netherlands |
| Type: | Paintings |
| Style: | Realism |
| Depth: | 3.25 in. (8.26 cm) |
| Width: | 36.75 in. (93.35 cm) |
| Height: | 29.5 in. (74.93 cm) |
| Canvas Width: | 27.825 in. (70.68 cm) |
| Canvas Height: | 20.825 in. (52.9 cm) |
Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit
125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists
