Printable Vintage Art: The Cat and the Flowers by Édouard Manet

Every day, at least for a few minutes, go and be with the plants. Look at them and smile, touch them with love, and talk to them for a while. These little engagements will recuperate your heart and nurture your soul.
― Bhuwan Thapaliya

We are all mistaken sometimes; sometimes we do wrong things, things that have bad consequences. But it does not mean we are evil, or that we cannot be trusted ever afterward.
― Alison Croggon

Vintage drawing titled “The Cat and the Flowers,” 1861 by Édouard Manet (1832-1883); oiginally found on Wikimedia here. This picture resonated with me because our toitoiseshell cat is also a master gardener who simply loves deadheading flowers and plants. She is so zealous in her duties that sometimes she doesn't even wait for the plants to look spent before she slices them off with her razor-sharp claws! Do you have a cat who loves gardening? Feel free to share your experience in the comments below.

My digitally enhanced version of Manet’s vintage drawing can be downloaded as a high-res 11” x 14” @ 300 ppi JPEGs here.


Digitally enhanced reproductions of public domain fine art are shared under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Printable Vintage Art: Still Life with Flowers in a Glass by Jan Brueghel the Elder

Still Life with Flowers in a Glass, 17th century
by Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568–1625)

What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. ... In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, sportmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.
― John Lubbock, The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live in

It is easier to tell a person what life is not, rather than to tell them what it is. A child understands weeds that grow from lack of attention, in a garden. However, it is hard to explain the wild flowers that one gardener calls weeds, and another considers beautiful ground cover.
― Shannon L. Alder

A somewhat dark and somber flower painting, which was par for the course in art from the 17th century (sometime between 1600 and 1625). Oiginally found on Wikimedia here. I thought this picture rather echoed my general mood when winter starts to descend in earnest. I can feel the malaise beginning to creep in around the edges and it can be helpful to stave off depression with a small posy of flowers (or at least, a picture of one if you can't get your hands on the real thing). You can download a digitally enhanced version of the vintage artwork (seen above) as a 7” x 9” @ 300 ppi JPEGs here.

Three Callas, Winter Edition © FieldandGarden.com. All rights reserved.
Digitally enhanced reproductions of public domain fine art are shared under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Printable Vintage Art: Still Life of Vegetables by Giuseppe Antonio Pianca

Health is the greatest possession.
Contentment is the greatest treasure.
Confidence is the greatest friend.
― Lao Tzu

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
― Wayne Fields

A beautiful still life painting by Giuseppe Antonio Pianca (1703–1762) simply titled “Still Life of Vegetables,” which was produced in the 18th century, c1757. Oiginally found on Wikimedia here. Digitally enhanced version of the vintage artwork can be downloaded as a 6” x 8” @ 300 ppi JPEG here.

I'm not sure about you but looking at vegetables during the festive season naturally gets me thinking about holiday cooking. One of the must-have accompaniments at our family gatherings is obviously stuffing! I usually have to prepare an enormous batch of it as everyone loves eating it for days after our big feast. I am always looking for interesting stuffing recipes and these ideas from Good Housekeeping should keep me busy testing them out for years to come. If you have a great stuffing recipe, feel free to share in the comments below.

Photo credit: Good Housekeeping

Digitally enhanced reproductions of public domain fine art are shared under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.