This Officer Wears White Plumes, Gold Braid and a Very Fluffy Ruff
Under a towering spray of white ostrich plumes, a magnificent white cat gazes out from the canvas with the cool confidence of a seasoned officer. His polished brass helmet gleams with a dark band, and his fluffy ruff spills over the high collar of a navy uniform covered in gold braid, rows of brass buttons and a crimson sash. Gold laurel embroidery runs down the front of the jacket, and heavy epaulettes sit on his shoulders. Behind him, dark velvet drapery and a stone column fade into shadow, while a fine web of crackle lines across the surface gives the portrait an antique feel.
Portraits like this borrow the look of early nineteenth-century military painting, when artists favored dramatic lighting, rich uniforms and noble poses to celebrate officers and rulers. Elaborate plumed helmets and braided jackets were part of the showy style of cavalry dress in that era. The sitter here resembles a Persian or another long-haired white cat. Persians are known for their calm, gentle temperament and need daily combing to keep their long coats free of mats. White cats with light-colored eyes are generally healthy, but some white cats, especially those with blue eyes, can be born deaf, so it is worth asking your vet about hearing if you have one.
Whether he ever led a cavalry charge or simply commanded the sunniest windowsill in the house, this officer clearly expects a salute.
