The Obsequies of an Egyptian Cat

A woman kneels on a woven mat, one hand lifted in sorrow, her body surrounded by lotus blossoms, food, and small ritual objects laid out with care. The reason for all this ceremony sits above her: a black cat, calm and dignified on its pedestal to the right. This is a cat's funeral, and in ancient Egypt that was no joke. Cats were tied to the goddess Bastet, and grieving families really did hold farewells for them, some going so far as to shave their eyebrows to show their loss. John Weguelin painted this scene in 1886, imagining one of those tender goodbyes.

Weguelin was a British artist during a period when Europe was gripped by fascination with ancient Egypt. His work belongs to the academic or classical-revival tradition, which prized fine detail and a good story. The background shows off that patience, with painted hieroglyphs and wall scenes meant to echo the interior of a real tomb. Soft, warm light and gently faded colors settle a hushed mood over everything.

Worth keeping in mind is that pictures like this reveal the Victorians as much as the Egyptians they portray. Weguelin and his contemporaries stitched together their view of the past from bits of archaeology and plenty of imagination, so the result is part fact and part romantic dream. Even so, the feeling at its center holds true, reminding us how strongly people have always loved their animal companions.