Artwork
Still life with a hare, dead birds and fish
Still life with a hare, dead birds and fish is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Alexander Adriaenssen. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1616, this oil painting presents a somber tabletop arrangement of a recently killed hare, several plucked birds, and a modest assortment of fish. The composition is dominated by muted earth tones, punctuated by the occasional vivid feather, and is executed with a pronounced contrast of light and shadow that emphasizes the textures of fur, feathers, and scales.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a traditional banquet of game, a visual inventory of edible wildlife that reflects the period’s interest in abundance, mortality, and the transitory nature of feast. By displaying the animals in a lifeless state, the artist invites contemplation of the cycle of consumption and the fleeting pleasure of the table.
Technique & Style
Employing chiaroscuro, the painter models forms through stark illumination against a dark background, enhancing the three‑dimensionality of each element. The brushwork varies from delicate rendering of feather detail to broader strokes that suggest the slick surface of the fish, while the overall palette remains restrained, reinforcing the work’s sober atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The piece is attributed to Alexander Adriaenssen, a Flemish artist known for his still lifes of fish and game during the early seventeenth century. It entered the collection of Madrid’s Museo del Prado, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s holdings of Dutch Golden Age paintings.
Context
Adriaenssen’s oeuvre aligns with the Dutch Golden Age tradition of still‑life painting, which often combined meticulous observation with symbolic references to wealth and the vanitas theme. The inclusion of a fountain and a basket reflects common compositional devices used to organize disparate objects within a single, cohesive scene.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alexander Adriaenssen (1587–1661) was a Flemish Baroque painter, particularly known for his still-lifes of fish and game pieces. He also painted banquet pieces with food and flower still lifes.
