The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 15, 2025
Monkey Preaching to Turkeys
1750–1800
circle of Christophe Huet
Sheet: 32.2 x 39.6 cm (12 11/16 x 15 9/16 in.)
Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2017.215
Location: Not on view
Description
This work belongs to a genre of imagery called singerie, which depicts monkeys dressed in human clothes parodying the actions of people. Here, a monkey preaches to a flock of turkeys from a wicker basket pulpit hanging from a tree. The turkeys, interpreted as symbols of foolishness, are deceived by the cunning primate in the disguise of a monk’s habit.- {{cite web|title=Monkey Preaching to Turkeys|url=false|author=Christophe Huet|year=1750–1800|access-date=15 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2017.215