Adolfo Bacci painted Capuchin Feeding the Cat approximately in 1880-1890-s. He based it on the motifs of real life in Tuscany. The artist depicted a monk wearing a brown cape (habit) — traditional clothes for the monastic Minor Capuchin Order of Friars. In the late 18th century, the Order practically disappeared, but in 1880-1890-s, it enjoyed a boom again, so you could see capuchins in any Italian street.

The author worked thoroughly on the details of the painting — the stones in the paved floor, the folds of fabric in the clothes, the carving of the chair back. He placed a fat bottle resembling a traditional Tuscany wine bottle (fiasca) on the floor: the makers started braiding the fragile glass with reed grass or straw back in the Middle Ages. At first such braid was horizontal, and starting from approximately the 18th century it became vertical leaving the upper part open.

The capuchins is a filiation of the Franciscan Order worshipping Saint Francis. Francis of Assisi denied all the property and committed himself to preaching and helping people. His disciples were wearing a rope with three knots. According to one of the versions, the knots symbolized three vows to God: vow of poverty, vow of chastity and vow of obedience. The capuchins turned to be the most austere and rigorous branch of the Mendicant Order — they completely denied any property except for the friar’s habit and sandals on bare feet. Their main ideas were ascetic living, missionary outreach and helping people.

Adolfo Bacci painted capuchins far from ascetic friars — he depicted them as very cheerful people enjoying wine, good food and intermingling with others.

In general, the author preferred cheerful scenes painting them with love and understanding to the personages. Many pieces by Adolfo Bacci are currently in the collections of South America.