Kit-Cat Pictures

This name is applied to portraits (half-length figure) painted on canvas, thirty-six by twenty-three inches, called kit-cat size.

The term originated in the fact that Sir Godfrey Kneller, a celebrated painter of the early part of the eighteenth century, executed forty-two portraits of members of the Kit-Cat Club in this uniform size. According to Defoe, the name of this club was derived from Kit (or Christopher) Cat, in whose house the Club held its meetings. This association was instituted in London in 1703, and consisted of noblemen and gentlemen favorable to the succession of the House of Hanover, but whose ostensible object was the encouragement of literature and the fine arts.

Among its members were Addison, Steele, Walpole, Marlborough, Sir Godfrey Kneller, etc. The club was dissolved in 1720, previous to which each of the members presented his portrait, as above mentioned, to Jacob Tonson, an eminent publisher, who was the founder and secretary of the club.

These interesting portraits are now in the possession of Mr. W. R. Baker, Hertfordshire, England.