19th Century Continental Oil on Canvas Singerie Portrait of a Girl Feeding a Monkey. Traditional singerie or 'monkey trick' painting depicting a young woman in a blue-ribboned cap peeling fruit while a small monkey perched nearby playfully reaches for the paring. Illegibly signed. Framed.

Overall Size: 24 x 30 in.
Sight Size: 14 1/2 x 19 1/2 in.

Singerie paintings are a whimsical genre of European art, particularly popular in the 17th and 18th centuries, depicting monkeys engaging in human activities such as dressing, dining, playing music, or engaging in courtly behavior. Originating in Flemish and French decorative arts, the term singerie comes from the French word for “monkey trick” or “ape-like behavior.” These paintings often carried a humorous or satirical undertone, playfully critiquing human follies and social customs by portraying them through the antics of monkeys. Singerie motifs appeared not only in canvas paintings but also in tapestries, ceramics, and furniture decoration, reflecting the Rococo fascination with playful, lighthearted, and ornamental subjects. The style remains a notable example of how animals were used in European art to mirror and mock human behavior.

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