Charming Chinese Ming Dynasty painting of a pair of cats sitting under a branch of blossoming peonies. The larger of the two cats, a calico, has his eyes fixed on a butterfly. The other cat, a wild eyed tabby, crouches with a large spider in his mouth. Wonderfully painted with great detail and whimsy. Mineral colors and ink on silk with silk mounting (was once a scroll). There is a chop in the lower left hand corner. Provenance: from the collection of James Soong. Total size including mounting: 43" high x 31 3/4" wide. Size of painting only: 16 1/4" high x 26 1/2" wide