Boy with a Kitten, 1807

William Owen RA (1769 - 1825)

RA Collection: Art

Owen was originally apprenticed to the coachpainter and founder member of the Royal Academy, Charles Catton, RA (1728–1798). He subsequently entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1791. He found most success as a portrait painter and his list of sitters was very distinguished. In 1810 he became portrait painter to the Prince of Wales. However as portraits were not acceptable as Diploma Works, Owen presented Boy with a Kitten to the Royal Academy.

These kind of subjects were very popular as engravings, and by 1810 a print of this picture was published with the title ‘Puss in Hopes’. Although Owen lacked the panache of his contemporary, Sir Thomas Lawrence, he had a strong sense of design and used this to create a pleasing composition full of strong accents of light and shade.