World’s largest cat painting sold for $826,000

A canvas which is believed to be the world’s largest cat painting and it was auctioned off at Sotheby’s in New York on Monday $826,000.

The expansive composition is titled My Wife’s Lovers and this was painted by Austrian artist Carl Kahler around 1893. The art weights 227 pounds, measures 75-inches-by-102-inches and it is so huge that it has to be hung on a specially constructed wall, according to the CBC.

San Francisco millionaire Kate Birdsall Johnson might be the greatest #cat enthusiast in US history. In 1891, she commissioned Austrian artist Carl Kahler to create a large-scale painting of 42 of her 350 much-loved cats, which her husband lightheartedly titled ‘My Wife’s Lovers’. Video at link in bio! The work is on view at Sotheby’s #NYC headquarters from 30 October – 2 November, ahead of the 19th Century European Art sale on 3 November. #NationalCatDay #CatsOfInstagram #meow ?

A photo posted by Sotheby’s (@sothebys) on Oct 29, 2015 at 9:27am PDT

The portrayed cats in the art work belong to the painting’s commissioner, Kate Birdsall Johnson. However, only 42 of her 350 felines made the cut for the piece. The cat named Sultan, a $3000 purchase for Johnson, sits in the painting’s center spot.

Cat enthusiast were mesmerized by the painting while it was on display at the auction house.
“When My Wife’s Lovers first went on exhibit on Friday, two women showed up with folding chairs and just sat and stared at the painting, taking in each different cat and their painted personality” the CBC reported.