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Cat design
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Cat design
Drawing by Alfred Waterhouse for the ornamentation of the Natural History Museum, London, 1875-1876. Waterhouse designed the museum in the 1860s, and it first opened its doors on Easter Monday 1881
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Media ID 8590701
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Alfred Waterhouse Carnivora Domestic Cat Epitheria Eutheria Felid Felidae Feliformia Felinae Feline Felis Felis Catus Felis Domesticus Felis Silvestris Catus Feloidea Mammalia Placental Mammal
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This drawing by Alfred Waterhouse, created in the late 19th century, showcases a feline design for the ornamentation of the Natural History Museum in London. Waterhouse, a renowned English architect, designed the museum in the 1860s, and it opened its doors on Easter Monday 1881. This intricately detailed illustration is a testament to Waterhouse's artistic vision and his deep appreciation for the natural world. The drawing depicts a felid animal, likely a domestic cat (Felis catus), nestled amongst the intricate carvings adorning the museum's interior. Felids, a group of mammals in the family Felidae, are characterized by their distinctive physical features, including retractable claws, powerful jaws, and agile bodies. This drawing highlights the feline's sleek form and elegant posture. Waterhouse's design reflects the taxonomic classification of the time, which placed cats in the order Carnivora, the carnivores, and the class Mammalia, the mammals. The cat is also classified as a placental mammal, meaning it develops its young inside the mother's body before birth. The drawing is a beautiful example of the ornamentation found throughout the museum, which showcases a wide range of animals from the epitheria, or the backbone group, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. The intricate details of the drawing, from the cat's fur texture to the surrounding foliage, transport us back to the Victorian era and offer a glimpse into the natural history fascination of the time. Waterhouse's design is a reminder of the important role that art and design played in the construction of the Natural History Museum and the celebration of the natural world. This drawing, with its exquisite attention to detail and its representation of a beloved animal, continues to captivate and inspire us today.
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