Artwork
A Group of Dead Game
A Group of Dead Game is an oil painting by Alexandre-François Desportes. It dates from 1707 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. Created in 1707, this oil painting presents a meticulously arranged still life of dead game.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1707, this oil painting presents a meticulously arranged still life of dead game. A duck hangs from a hook while a pheasant and a hare lie on a wooden tabletop, accompanied by a cluster of grapes and other fruit. The composition is set against a dark backdrop that concentrates attention on the rendered objects.
Subject & Meaning
The work exemplifies the tradition of hunting still lifes, celebrating the abundance of the hunt and the skill of the artist in portraying lifelike textures. By juxtaposing game with fruit, the painting hints at themes of nourishment and the interplay between the natural world and human consumption, a common motif in early‑18th‑century French decorative art.
Technique & Style
Rendered with a realistic approach, the artist captures the sheen of feathers and the softness of fur through precise brushwork and careful modulation of light. A strong chiaroscuro effect creates depth, the dark background receding while the illuminated table and its contents gain volume. The handling of oil paint conveys subtle variations in texture and colour.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced by Alexandre‑François Desportes, a French painter trained under Nicasius Bernaerts and later admitted to the Académie de peinture et de sculpture in 1699. Known for his animal and floral subjects, Desportes created numerous hunting still lifes. This particular piece now belongs to the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Alexandre-François Desportes (24 February 1661 — 20 April 1743) was a French painter and decorative designer who specialised in animals.
