The Johnston Collection contains a small number of objects from the Netherlands, including three paintings. Their subjects range from a grand sea battle between the English and the Dutch in the manner of Abraham Storck (circa 1670), a dark still life of flowers from the circle of Jean Baptiste Monnoyer (circa 1720), to a rather chaotic cat fight taking place on a table laden with food, attributed to Jan Fijt (circa 1650). Annette Welkamp spoke on the topic of Men o’ war, tulips & some very naughty cats: three dutch paintings in the Johnston Collection. This lecture contextualised these by exploring the Dutch obsession with the sea, trade, bulbs and sideboards groaning with food, particularly as it is presented in paintings. Wednesday 3 August 2011. The Johnston Collection, East Melbourne.