Hello, this item is an original watercolor titled “The Watchful Cat” by John Alonzo Williams, dated 1940. The work depicts a seated gray-striped cat rendered in expressive blue and violet tones, characteristic of Williams’ delicate watercolor handling. The composition combines realism and stylization, focusing on the alert posture and intense gaze of the feline. Executed on cardboard, the painting measures approximately 12 ¼ x 17 ⅜ inches and is preserved in mint condition, professionally matted and framed. A label on the reverse indicates provenance linked to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s gift of A. J. Hammerslough (accession 40.17), confirming institutional documentation.

John Alonzo Williams was active in early 20th-century American art circles, producing naturalistic and animal-themed watercolors noted for their tonal restraint and refined brushwork. Works by Williams from this period are occasionally found in private collections and regional museum holdings. Comparable watercolors from the 1930s–40s by Williams typically sell between 600 and 1,200 USD, depending on subject, provenance, and preservation.