Purrquoise the Traveling Cat

As soon as he arrived in Los Angeles, Purrquoise, the turquoise cat, was a star. But this charismatic kitty traveled a long way to get here! Made in China in the 1750s, he moved by ship to France, where he padded around with the rich and famous—like Madame de Pompadour, noted companion of King Louis XV—as well as those who served them. After a few centuries there, he traveled across the Atlantic and settled in at the Getty Museum in 2024.Adjusting to a new culture takes time, an open mind, and an adventurous spirit. Hear about 18th-century trade and travel and the importance of changing perspectives in this adventuresome cat’s tail, er, tale.Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like exploring how trade shapes your world. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star! And don't forget to leave us a rating or review!These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at PodTeam@getty.edu.For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcastsRecording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world. Learn more about all we do for art on our website:Getty: https://www.getty.edu/Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/