Who painted Bird Shoot in Brussels?

Bird Shoot in Brussels was painted by David Teniers the Younger in 1650.

Where can I see Bird Shoot in Brussels?

Bird Shoot in Brussels is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Bird Shoot in Brussels?

Bird Shoot in Brussels is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of Bird Shoot in Brussels?

Museum-quality prints of Bird Shoot in Brussels are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Bird Shoot in Brussels

David Teniers the Younger , 1650

Bird Shoot in Brussels is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist David Teniers the Younger. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1650, this oil painting by David Teniers the Younger captures a bustling urban scene in Brussels. Central to the composition is a ceremonial bird‑shooting event attended by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas records a festive popinjay, a traditional target‑shooting contest, staged before a prominent church. Archduke Leopold Wilhelm is shown among the spectators, underscoring his patronage of the arts and his role in courtly entertainments. The gathering of townspeople, flags, and horses conveys the civic pride of mid‑seventeenth‑century Brussels.

Technique & Style

Teniers employs a finely detailed, low‑contrast palette typical of Flemish genre painting, rendering the crowd’s clothing and architectural elements with precise brushwork. The bright red flag in the centre draws the eye, while the cloudy sky provides diffused illumination that models the stone façades and bustling figures.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the imperial collection of the Habsburgs, eventually becoming part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings. Its attribution to Teniers the Younger has been confirmed through stylistic analysis and archival records linking the work to the Archduke’s patronage.

Context

The Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon, depicted in the background, was a notable landmark in Brussels during the Spanish Netherlands period. The scene reflects the city’s social hierarchy, with aristocratic patrons, municipal officials, and ordinary citizens sharing a public space during a ceremonial sport.