Who painted Belling the cat?

Belling the cat was painted by Pieter Brueghel the Younger in 1598.

Where can I see Belling the cat?

Belling the cat is held by Kunsthaus Zürich.

What movement is Belling the cat?

Belling the cat is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Belling the cat

Pieter Brueghel the Younger , 1598

Belling the cat is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Pieter Brueghel the Younger. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.

About this work

Overview

Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564–1638), a prolific Flemish painter, completed the oil work Belling the Cat in 1598. The painting belongs to the Flemish Baroque genre tradition and is presently part of the Kunsthaus Zürich collection.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a kneeling figure in full armor grappling with a large cat in a meadow. The animal wears a bell on a collar, which the man holds, suggesting a practical attempt to control the cat’s movements. A tranquil village, river, trees and a distant castle-like structure form the background, contrasting the immediate struggle.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the composition employs the detailed, narrative style typical of Brueghel’s workshop. The artist renders textures, metallic armor, fur, foliage, with careful brushwork, while the lighting highlights the central figures against a softer, atmospheric landscape.

History & Provenance

Created toward the end of the 16th century, the painting reflects Brueghel the Younger’s habit of adapting motifs from his father’s oeuvre. After changing hands over the centuries, it entered the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Pieter Brueghel the Younger

Pieter Brueghel the Younger ( BROY-gəl, also US: BROO-gəl; Dutch:; between 23 May and 10 October 1564 – between March and May 1638) was a Flemish painter known for numerous copies after his father Pieter Bruegel the…