Cleveland Museum of Art

The Parrot and the Cat (Sketch for "Good-Night" by Eleanor Gates)

Arthur Rackham

Date

c. 1905

Medium

black ink wash with graphite on paper

Culture

England, late 19th-early 20th century

Department

Drawings

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Arthur Rackham was one of the most successful book illustrators of the early 20th century. He is best known for his colored illustrations for luxury editions intended as Christmas gifts. However, Rackham also did some work as a commercial illustrator. He designed ephemera like bookplates and greeting cards, and created illustrations for several magazines. The image associated with this sketch is an example of the later. It was one of six published in the February 1906 issue of Scribner's Magazine accompanying the short story "Buenas Noches" by Eleanor Gates. This sketch shows the tale's two subjects in the same positions and poses as in the finished composition. This sketch shows the climax of the story when Loretta the Parrot confronts her enemy, Tomasso the cat, to protect her friend, Tony the canary.

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