Fritz Zuber-Buhler (1822-1896, Swiss) began his interest in art through engraving, which he learned from his maternal grandfather. He moved to Paris when he was 16 and began studying at the École des Beaux-Arts . Afterwards, he traveled to Italy and might have studied in Berlin. He returned to Paris after travelling through Europe for five years. He had his first exhibition in Paris in 1850 and later in the United States, where he was quite successful.
Zuber-Buhler painted mythological and religious scenes as well as commissioned portraits, in addition to peasant children in rural scenes, using differing media such as oil, drawings, pastels and watercolors. His classical academic style is similar to Leon Brazile Perrault, another artist who used cats in his compositions. Both his commissioned portraits and his depictions of peasant children often times included cats and kittens, undoubtedly using their symbolism of the feminine.
Zuber-Buhler died in Paris at 74. His works are still much sought after today.

The Granary Loft

The Granary Loft, Detail

Girl with cats (detail)

Little Girl Feeding her Cat

Little Girl Feeding her Cat, Detail

Mother and Child with Cat

Mother and Child with Cat, Detail

A Reclining Beauty With Her Cat
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