Ralph Hedley’s original title for this popular picture was ‘Blinking in the Sun’. The tabby cat is sitting in an old cottage window, which has cracked glass and a worn stone sill. Nevertheless, the cat looks well-fed and contented. It’s springtime, and a white hyacinth and a red tulip are flowering. There’s also a geranium in an earthenware pot, the most popular cottage pot plant.

Provenance: Purchased 1970

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: Ralph Hedley (1848-1913)
Date: 1881

Image Details
Date: 15 April 2023
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/30s
ISO: 640
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.