Marie Yvonne Laur was born in Paris on the 21^st July, 1879.  She studied in Paris and became a very competent genre painter, eventually specialising in delightful portrayals of cats.  She signed her work ‘Yo Laur’, the name by which her contemporaries affectionately called her.

During the later part of the 19^th century, as the middle classes expanded, so did the number of cats and dogs kept as domestic pets.  This gave rise to a large demand for cat paintings which would have been inconceivable in the 18^th century.  Cats as a subject were seen as eminently suitable for the female brush and artists such as Henrietta Ronner and Maud Earl were all highly successful.

Laur exhibited her work at the Salon des Artistes Francais and she became a member there in 1908 having received an honourable mention for her work previously.

Her draughtsmanship was excellent and the playful animation of her subjects, together with her use of rich colouring makes her work immediately appealing.

Exhibited

Salon des Artistes Francais

Museums

Anvers, Bagnols, Digne, Gray

Literature

‘Popular 19^th Century Painting’ by Hook & Poltimore