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When you think of old paintings, your mind may wander to an image with a somber, stiff tone. It’s likely because most of the surviving pieces are religious, creating an impression that this type of artwork often carries a serious vibe.
What most people don’t see is the vibrant and humorous side, which you will see in the following images. They instantly break the impression of this supposedly restrained form of visual expression, making them extra funny.
Check out this list to see what we mean, and as always, don’t forget to upvote your favorites!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This Cat Has Seen Things
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#2
Giving Your Cat Their Medicine
#3
What Is This?
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 weeks ago
This is what happens in your dreams when you eat strong cheese late at night.
In recent years, experts have begun challenging the “dark and gloomy” reputation that has long been associated with medieval art. In an article for The Conversation, academics José Alberto Moráis Morán and María Dolores Teijer Pablos began to dispel this notion by mentioning the colorful interiors of the Old Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.
#4
This Painting Of An Absolute Unit
#5
4-Year-Old Girl With Cat And Fish
#6
(Internal Dialogue) I'm Not Fat I'm Just Big Boned
According to Pablos and Morán, the original basilica, built around 326 to 333 AD on the orders of the Roman emperor Constantine, had large windows that made the entire space feel bright and airy.
The building also had marble mosaics and textiles, which ultimately proves that medieval architecture’s reputation for being “dark and sinister” was purely a myth.
#7
This Dog Or Cat ?
I stumbled across this beauty today and needless to say, I like it’s eyes and lips.
#8
Dog Treating A Bedridden Cat For "Melancholy" (Source Unknown, CA. 12th Century)
#9
"You Must Have Scared Him, Cupcake Is Usually So Friendly". St Martha And The Tarasque
Multa Nocte 2 weeks ago
This beast is from the town of Tarascon in southern France. My great-grandmother is from its sister town, Beaucaire, which is on the other side of the river.
“Many buildings of the early Middle Ages were painted in bright colours, though the passage of time has erased these fragile murals,” Pablos and Morán wrote.
As for artwork, both academics referred to the color restoration of the Amiens Cathedral in France. Pablos and Morán pointed out the “striking” shades of red and blue on the sculptures to prove that Medieval art was “colorful and lively.”
#10
Saint-Lifard
#11
"But This Is My Emotional Support Lobster!!" Said Gilbert, Defensively
Sue Denham 2 weeks ago
Oh, right. And here was me thinking it was his emotional support toupee.
#12
Spotted This Guy At The Gemäldegalerie In Berlin Last Year, He Looks Like A Grumpy Old Man
Some view Medieval art as odd, including author Olivia Swarthout. She even started a social media account aptly named “Weird Medieval Guys,” showing the peculiarities of the genre. As of this posting, the account has more than 600,000 followers (and counting).
“What makes them funny is often a juxtaposition of expression and situation, plus the medieval setting,” Swarthout told the Guardian in a 2012 interview, noting that her pieces are about giving something where people can say, “That reminds me of myself.”
#13
Interesting Medieval Painting
#15
Welcome To My Delightful Spread
For Swarthout, it’s all about capturing the essence of the time period through its many imperfections, which she believes makes such images a hit with many people.
“There’s so much contained in this art – and particularly in the fact that a lot of it isn’t all that well-executed or approached with the artistic precision that we’re familiar with – that actually tells us so much about medieval life,” she explained.
#16
This Cat Is A Mood?
#17
Perna (Oyster) - Miniature From Folio 108v From Der Naturen Bloeme (Kb Ka 16)
#18
Singing Angels
#19
Benedictine Monk With Wine As A Morning Drink
#20
Dispute Of St. Catherine With The Philosophers
#21
Just Get In The Pot, Brian
Apocalypse de S. Jean, en français. Gallica BnF.
#22
Le Chat D'ostende
#23
This Was Part Of A Manuscript Written By Jean Mansel In France 1454
I wonder why cats always looked so weird in medieval drawings.
#24
Medieval Partytime
#25
Flower Piece With Cat And Mousetrap
#26
He Is Handsome He Is Grace He Has A Little Bit Of That Monday Face
#27
"For Small Creatures Such As We The Vastness Is Bearable Only Through Love"
#28
A Hound Riding On A Rabbit And A Rabbit Riding On A Snail Battle With Shields And Lances
#29
This Isn't The Reincarnation I Requested
#30
What Is Making Him So Sad?
Phantom Phoenix 2 weeks ago (edited)
Perhaps sad due to identity crises... cat head, human hands, dragon feet, snake tail, mis-gendered as a "he" despite going bottomless and displaying her uncensored bits
Jane Doe-Doe 2 weeks ago
What’s making him sad.. he had to sit like that for HOURS so he could be painted
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 weeks ago
"I hurt myself today, To see if I still feel, I focus on the pain, The only thing that's real."
Sara Harvilla 1 week ago
He's confused. Why does he have fingers on his front paws but claws on his back paws? And what's with that extra-long tail? It's always getting closed in doors.
michelle neugebauer 2 weeks ago
The owl left.him for another p***y cat and stole the pea green boat!
Janet Horwith 2 weeks ago
His trousers are missing, his boy bits are showing and his mandolin is sadly out of tune. And it's Monday.
#31
Elephants From The Rochester Bestiary
#32
Salome Dancing
#33
The Dream Of The Three Wise Men
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 weeks ago
"Look! It's so very innocent! There was only one room available at the hotel available and it was either this or sleep outside!"
#34
Devil Bearing Jesus
#35
Book Of Hours
#36
Fresco Cycle Featuring Scenes From The Life Of St. Martin Of Tours, Chapel In The Lower Church Of San Francesco In Assisi, Scene
#37
A Depiction Of A Leopard In The 12th-Century Aberdeen Bestiary
#38
Cat In His New Coat
#39
Leo Flores
#40
Quentin Matsys - A Grotesque Old Woman
Forrest Hobbs 2 weeks ago
Now look at those hands. Any artist who can paint hands that well can paint exactly what they intend to portray. And there is something about that face which suggests a hint of a smile. The Wikipedia article on this painting suggests it's possibly satirical. Link follows.
#41
Captivity Of Jeholachin King Of Israel
#42
Snail Attack
#43
Turns Out Elden Ring Is Historically Accurate!
#44
John The Fearless
#45
Combat Between Carnival And Lent
martymcmatrix 2 weeks ago
When the scenes are crowed with many people engaging in everyday life activities, then it's Pieter Brueghel (the Elder)...👍🏽
#46
Augustine Of Hippo
#47
Egmont Breviary
#49
Book Of Hours
Don't listen to me 2 weeks ago
It's that leopard again, even better this time. Great m****r mittens.
#50
The Feast Of The Bean King
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What do you think ?
Bilja M 2 weeks ago
This just proves people were weird way before social media, probably always.
Forrest Hobbs 2 weeks ago (edited)
Bilja M: the monks illustrating those manuscripts really did have plenty of time to get the job done, and lots of them had a sense of humour. They could take their time without the boss demanding they doubled their production rate to ten pages a week... (just a guess - I expect some of the more elaborate pages took more than a week each, while others were much quicker to illustrate once they'd been written).
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Bilja M 2 weeks ago
This just proves people were weird way before social media, probably always.
Forrest Hobbs 2 weeks ago (edited)
Bilja M: the monks illustrating those manuscripts really did have plenty of time to get the job done, and lots of them had a sense of humour. They could take their time without the boss demanding they doubled their production rate to ten pages a week... (just a guess - I expect some of the more elaborate pages took more than a week each, while others were much quicker to illustrate once they'd been written).
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