The King Rests One Paw on His Golden Throne and Fears No One
A small golden crown sits perfectly balanced between the ears of a sleek blue-gray cat, who stares out of the canvas with calm green eyes and the unbothered air of absolute authority. His royal robe is a sumptuous sapphire velvet embroidered with golden laurel leaves, finished with gold tassels and a thick ermine collar dotted with black tails. One gray paw rests on the gilded arm of an intricately carved throne, while the other drapes casually over the edge. A stone column and heavy green drapery loom in the shadowy background.
Ermine trim, the white fur with black tips seen on this collar, was long associated with royalty and high nobility in European portraiture, which is why painters often included it to signal rank. The cat wearing it here resembles a Russian Blue, a breed known for its dense, silvery-blue double coat and vivid green eyes. Russian Blues are often described as gentle, quiet and somewhat reserved with strangers, while being devoted to their families. They tend to appreciate routine and calm surroundings. Their plush coat sheds relatively little and benefits from a weekly brushing.
With a crown, a throne and an expression like that, there is no question who rules this household. The rest of us simply live in his kingdom. Kindly bow on your way to the food bowl.
