The Court Painter Stepped Away From the Easel With a Secret

Between brushstrokes, the court painter turns to meet your eye. This grey tabby has amber eyes and neat striped cheeks, and he wears a dark green velvet coat with tiny embroidered leaves, a cream cravat, and a leather strap across one shoulder. In the crook of his gray paw sits a wooden palette crowded with blues, pinks, ochres, and greens, with a bundle of brushes tucked alongside. Behind him, a tall window and a stone column glow softly, and the velvet of his coat shows tiny cracks in the old paint. He looks relaxed, pleased, and a little bit smug about his color mixing.

Grey tabbies are not a breed but a coat pattern, and the stripes, swirls, and spots can show up on almost any cat. Domestic shorthairs, which wear this pattern often, tend to be sturdy, adaptable, and good at settling into different homes. Cats also love to watch and to stay near the action, which is why so many follow their people from room to room. A window perch, a scratching post, and a few daily play sessions keep a shorthair mentally busy and physically fit. As cats age, regular vet visits help catch small problems early.

We can only guess what masterpiece is on the easel, but we suspect it is a portrait of someone very handsome. The painter appears confident about his color choices, and honestly, so are we.