Small Cat Portrait by Léon-Charles Huber in Ornate Frame, c. 1900 - 20½" x 16½"

This delightful small oil painting on panel, likely dating from around 1900, depicts a black cat with an endearing expression, captured with remarkable sensitivity by French painter Léon-Charles Huber (1858–1928). Its fluffy black coat, bright amber eyes and slightly tilted head are beautifully set against a warm coral-pink background, with a cheerful yellow-green ribbon tied around its neck. Signed C. Huber in the lower right corner, the painting is presented in an elaborate frame combining richly figured reddish-brown wood with a carved giltwood outer border of scrolling foliage and a delicate beaded inner edge. The frame shows light wear, including two missing beads along the inner border.

Born in Paris, Huber studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and exhibited regularly at the prestigious Salon des Artistes Français from 1887 to 1926, receiving an honorable mention in 1903. He became particularly celebrated for his affectionate, often humorous depictions of cats, capturing their individual personalities with remarkable sensitivity. The playful colors and wonderfully expressive little cat make this portrait especially endearing, while the richly ornamented frame gives it an almost ceremonial importance. A thoughtful gift for a cat lover.