Elizabethan Sphynx Cat Ally Stallcup acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12"; $350 Exhibited at Village West in Wherefore Art Spring 2019 |
Flying between the cold moon and the earth,
Cupid all arm'd: a certain aim he took
At a fair vestal throned by the west,
And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow
As it should pierce a hundred-thousand hearts
-- A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II, Scene 1
This is a painting of a sphynx cat dressed as Queen Elizabeth I. She and Shakespeare had a strong relationship, where he loved her and her court and she was a patron of his writings. His description of her in A Midsummer Night's Dream describes her as an ethereal being chosen by Cupid himself to capture the hearts of hundreds of thousands.
I chose the sphynx cat as they are not considered traditionally beautiful, but I find them beautiful and ethereal, and juxtaposed in the elegant and ornate garb of the queen makes a powerful statement.
If you are interested in purchasing this work, please contact Ally Stallcup or visit allystallcup.com.