Henriette Ronner

Henriëte Ronner-Knip (1821–1909) was a Dutch-Belgian painter celebrated for her charming and lifelike depictions of cats, dogs, and domestic interiors. Initially painting landscapes and genre scenes, she rose to international fame in the mid-19th century for her detailed, affectionate portrayals of cats in playful and elegant settings, often commissioned by European royalty and aristocracy. Her mastery of animal anatomy and fur texture, combined with warm, refined compositions, made her one of the most beloved animal painters of her time. Born in Amsterdam into an artistic family, she was the daughter of landscape painter Josephus Augustus Knip and began her art career under his guidance. In 1850, she married Feico Ronner, and after his illness, became the family’s main provider through her art. She spent much of her life in Brussels, where she continued painting until her death in 1909.