I was flipping through the Penguin Concise Dictionary of Art History when I happened on the art term Singerie:
"From singe, French for 'monkey,' singerie refers to the use of monkeys in art, usually displaying human characteristics and often dressed in clothing."
The entry goes on to say: "Since medieval times monkeys were shown to parody the behavior of human beings. In the 17th century, monkeys in human costume were incorporated into the elaborate grotesque decor in the court of Louis XIV, and fanciful, lighthearted images of cavorting, dressed-up monkeys became a favorite theme for interior decoration in French Rococo. Their decorative popularity declined with the arrival of the Neoclassical period."
I can't make a monkey reference and not mention Todd Morman's Monkey Media Report.