Almost from the beginning of art humans have portrayed cats. The animal originally domesticated for the humble purpose of catching mice was already a goddess in ancient Egypt & a beloved household pet in ancient Rome. Throughout history cats have been a beautiful vessel for symbolic meanings ranging from dark unruly sensuality to perfect domestic tranquillity. In this book cats inhabit 170 art masterpieces. Sometimes they are the stars of the work & sometimes they are working their magic from the corners of rooms (in which case both the whole work & a detail showing the cat are both illustrated). Here are paintings by Van Eyck Raphael Leonardo Bruegel Rembrandt Chardin Gainsborough Manet Renoir Bonnard Gauguin Matisse Balthus Picasso Warhol & many other famous artists. Stefano Zuffis charming text tells us what it all means. The cats meanwhile are beautiful seductive & mysterious.