McSorley's Cats

Maker John Sloan (American, 1871 - 1951)

Collections

American Paintings Selections

ClassificationsPAINTINGS

Date1929

Mediumoil on canvas

Dimensions35 x 45 in. (88.9 x 114.3 cm.)

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Gift of the Virginia Steele Scott Foundation

Label TextBetween 1912 and 1930, Sloan created five paintings of McSorley's Old Ale House in New York City. In this version, Sloan depicted a few of his friends enjoying the bar known for its "good ale, raw onions, and no ladies." Seated at the table in the lower left corner are Sloan himself (with pipe and glasses), the cartoonist Art Young, and George O. Hamlin (with pipe). Artist and critic Alexander Kruse leans on the bar, holding a cane. The proprietor of the tavern, Bill McSorley, opens the icebox to feed his cats ground bull's liver.
Sloan began his career as a magazine illustrator, which inspired him to present his subjects in a straightforward style. The primary source for this work was an illustration he made in 1913 for Norman Hapgood's article "McSorley's Saloon," published in Harper's Weekly.

Status

On view

Object number83.8.44