Gentile Bellini
Caterina Cornaro, Queen of Cyprus

Cat:

Oh, gracious lady! I beg you will forgive me. I fear I lost control of myself and started … running …in the museum rooms. What an unpardonable blunder!

Mouse:

Don't worry, Kitty! She never noticed!

Cat:

Ha! You, here? She didn't notice? You sure?

Mouse:

I am. And now, if you'll finally stop running after me, I promise I won't tell her. Deal?

Cat:

OK, deal! And you really think the gracious lady didn't notice... after all, she is Caterina Cornaro, the Queen of Cyprus.

Mouse:

That's exactly why! She has better things to worry about than noticing kitty-cats running around.

She was married off to the King of Cyprus by her family and had to leave her home, the city of Venice. From Venice to the island of Cyprus – that's a long way. But the people of Venice insisted that one of their own should rule the island, because they wanted their merchant ships to be able to drop anchor in Cyprus. But poor Caterina's husband died pretty soon after.

Cat:

Poor Caterina indeed. But... the people of Venice were pleased?

Mouse:

They certainly were! They took control of Cyprus because, of course, they had Caterina there. But they didn't really need her any more, so they gave her a castle somewhere in Italy and allowed her to live there. No more ‘Queen of Cyprus’... But in her innermost heart, she always remained a queen.

Cat:

That's actually what the picture shows. It portrays an awe-inspiring lady with a crown, with priceless jewellery and expensive clothes.

Mouse:

Well, it certainly put the wind up you. Made you show a bit of respect.

Cat:

Put the wind up? Did you say put the wind up?

Mouse:

Hey, cat! Enough with the hunting! We made peace, remember?

...honestly, no mouse should ever rely on a kitty-cat – you just can't trust them...

Cat:

Hey, Mousey! It was a joke!