Girl Defending a Cat
After Joseph Beaume (French, 1796–1885) | 19th century | Oil on canvas, unsigned

Canvas: 18 x 14.5 in
Framed: 25 x 22 in

Charming narrative oil painting depicting a young girl protectively shielding a cat, likely inspired by compositions associated with the French academic painter Joseph Beaume. The work reflects the sentimental genre scenes popular in 19th-century European painting, where animals and children were used to convey tenderness and moral storytelling.

The painting is presented in an ornate gilt frame composed of wood and gesso with metal elements, consistent with decorative frames of the late 19th to early 20th century.

Accompanied by a card stating the work originated from the estate of Alexander Graham Bell, the Scottish-American inventor best known for developing the telephone. This provenance remains unverified and should be considered anecdotal unless further documentation emerges.

Condition:
Visible paint loss along the edges of the canvas. Frame shows expected wear consistent with age.