Description
This picture interprets one of Aesop’s ancient Greek fables (or probably the more contemporary interpretation by Jean de la Fontaine, even more famous at the time), which warns of the dangers of flattery. A monkey sweet-talks a cat into pulling scalding chestnuts out of the fire. The cat finishes the risky and painful task to discover that the monkey has already gobbled up nearly all of them.
Provenance
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio (1979-); The Butkin Foundation, Cleveland, OH, by gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art 1 (1974-1979); Noah Butkin [1918-1980], Cleveland, OH, probably by exchange to The Butkin Foundation (c. 1968-1974); (Judson Art Galleries, Kenilworth, IL, sold to Noah Butkin) (Until c. 1968); (Central Picture Galleries, New York, sold to Judson Art Galleries)1 (Probably until the mid-1960s)
Accession Number
1979.82
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
Framed: 80 x 93.5 x 6 cm (31 1/2 x 36 13/16 x 2 3/8 in.); Unframed: 62.2 x 73.7 cm (24 1/2 x 29 in.)
Classification
Painting
Credit Line
Gift of The Butkin Foundation