The Hermitage Court Waiter Cat
For the past 200 years, a countless number of cats have patrolled the grounds of the Hermitage, tasked with keeping the palace, and later art museum, vermin free. Now, the felines are set to become the art they protect, as the Russian landmark has commissioned Uzbek artist Eldar Zakirov with creating six kitty portraits to be published in their magazine.
The remarkable series, titled, “Cats of the Hermitage,” features the regal felines decked out in traditional Tsarist court costumes, as they gaze contemplatively off into the distance. I was blown away by the level of detail in each portrait, which is especially impressive considering that the oil paintings were actually created using Photoshop.
Cats were originally brought into the palace in the 18th-century, by an Empress who was battling drafty hallways that were being overrun with rats. Today, the furry exterminators reside in the basement, where a devoted staff caters to their every need.
You can watch a short video about the Hermitage Cats here.
Hermitage Court Moor In Casual Uniform
The Hermitage Court Confectioner Apprentice Cat
The Hermitage Court Chamber Herald Cat
The Hermitage Court Moor Cat
The Hermitage Court Outrunner Cat
Via artinfo / Behance (Eldar Zakirov)
4 comments:
I totally fallin' down LOVE these portraits! THANK you for letting us see them.
Love all of those.
Sue B
OMC! Those are wonderful! I especially liked the one of the cat's tail coming out of his coat tails. :)
The third cat is so good! Those cats are more important than the people in palace
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