“Boy With Cat” by Henry Bacon

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The creator of this charming fireside painting, American artist Henry Bacon (1839-1912) served in the American Civil War. And this … Read more The creator of this charming fireside painting, American artist Henry Bacon (1839-1912) served in the American Civil War. And this painting dates to the period when Henry Bacon first arrived in Paris in 1864 to study art after being discharged from the Union Army due to his wounds. Between 1866 and 1868, he lived in the village of Écouen near Paris, where he studied under the French figure painter Édouard Frère. There he was influenced by his master’s style of sentimental French peasant scenes, which were highly popular among collectors in both Europe and America. During this time, he developed his characteristic style of sentimental, detailed, genre scenes, like this one of a boy playing with his pet in the glow and warmth of the fireplace.
Bacon's work became part of the 19th-century American genre painting tradition, focused on scenes of everyday life with a narrative and often sentimental quality. The style is smoothly finished, with rich colors and carefully modeled figures, consistent with academic tastes of the time. It was only later in his career that Bacon transitioned to more Orientalist subjects.

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