Artwork
Poultry Yard
Poultry Yard is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Dirck Wijntrack. It dates from 1643 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Dirck Wijntrack’s 1643 oil painting, titled Poultry Yard, presents a modest rural scene centered on a yard populated by chickens and roosters. A gnarled tree arches over a small stone house with a chimney, while a softer sky and distant structures frame the composition. The work is part of the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas captures everyday agrarian life, focusing on the interaction of domestic fowl with their environment. By arranging the birds in various poses—pecking, standing, and wandering—the artist emphasizes the natural behavior and vitality of the poultry, offering a glimpse into 17th‑century countryside routines.
Technique & Style
Wijntrack renders the scene with careful observation of light, allowing sunlight to illuminate the feathers and the bark of the twisted tree. The varied coloration and texture of the chickens are achieved through delicate brushwork, while the stone house and distant architecture are suggested with broader, softer strokes, creating depth and atmospheric perspective.
History & Provenance
Created in 1643, the painting entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. Its presence in the museum underscores the institution’s broader collection of Dutch Golden Age works, illustrating the period’s interest in genre scenes of rural life.
Artist & collection
