François Bonvin, a devoted admirer of 17th-century Flemish painting and of the œuvre of Jean Siméon Chardin, focused on depicting the contemporary world in his genre scenes and still lifes. After making his début at the Salon in 1847, he became a key figure in the Realist movement, particularly thanks to L’École des Orphelines (1850), one of his most iconic paintings. Despite this recognition, Bonvin remained on the margins of official artistic circles, advocating for new styles and participating in the Salon des Refusés in 1863.
Known for his meticulous and skillful drawings, Bonvin’s works on paper were distinguished by detailed draughtsmanship and a keen ability to capture texture and light. His animal studies, though less common, entailed the adoption of the same naturalistic approach. Our Sleeping Cat exemplifies his sensitivity to the subject: while conveying the feline’s serene mood, our drawing clearly epitomises Bonvinʼs delicate, yet profound, perception of the living world around him.