Who painted Hen Run at a Manor?

Hen Run at a Manor was painted by Unknown in 1650.

Where can I see Hen Run at a Manor?

Hen Run at a Manor is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Hen Run at a Manor

Hen Run at a Manor is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Hen Run at a Manor, attributed to the artist recorded as 2618_person, dates to around 1650 and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The image captures a densely populated courtyard where a variety of birds—peacocks, chickens, a rooster, and a large black bird—share the space with a turtle, set against a backdrop of a decorative vase and trees.

Subject & Meaning

The composition juxtaposes domesticated fowl with a peacock, a bird traditionally associated with display and status, suggesting a scene of aristocratic leisure where cultivated garden life blurs with the untamed. The presence of the turtle adds an element of stillness amid the bustling avian activity, reinforcing a theme of coexistence between cultivated and wild elements.

Technique & Style

The image employs strong contrasts of light and shadow, a chiaroscuro effect that highlights certain birds while allowing others to recede into darker areas. This manipulation of illumination creates depth and directs the viewer’s eye toward the central peacock, emphasizing its plumage against the muted courtyard surroundings.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1650, the work has been retained within the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography, where it serves as an example of early modern visual documentation of domestic and ornamental fauna. Its attribution to 2618_person remains based on catalog records from the museum’s acquisition files.

Context

The scene reflects a period when affluent households often maintained elaborate gardens populated with exotic and domestic birds as symbols of wealth and taste. The inclusion of a decorative vase and surrounding trees situates the courtyard within a cultivated landscape typical of manor estates in the mid‑17th century.