Artwork

Ansichten aus den vier Weltteilen mit Szenen von Tieren: Malta

Ansichten aus den vier Weltteilen mit Szenen von Tieren: Malta is an unspecified painting by Ferdinand van Kessel the Elder. It dates from 1682 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1682 by Flemish Baroque painter Ferdinand van Kessel the Elder, this oil work forms part of a larger series that portrays the four continents. The Malta panel presents a verdant landscape populated by numerous birds, a distant townscape, and a body of water, all arranged to guide the eye from foreground to horizon.

Subject & Meaning

The composition foregrounds a lively assortment of avian life, rendered in a spectrum of colors and sizes, suggesting the richness of Malta’s natural environment. Behind the birds, a modest urban skyline and calm water hint at the island’s human settlement and maritime character, linking wildlife with place.

Technique & Style

Van Kessel employs the Baroque penchant for dramatic depth, using layered foliage and atmospheric perspective to create spatial recession. Fine brushwork captures feather detail, while subtle tonal shifts in the greenery and sky generate texture and a sense of movement among the birds.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains displayed among other works from the artist’s continental series. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s focus on Baroque European art and the preservation of Flemish landscape traditions.

Context

Part of a quartet illustrating Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, the Malta scene reflects 17th‑century European curiosity about distant lands. Van Kessel’s choice to emphasize fauna within a recognizable Mediterranean setting aligns with contemporary interests in natural history and the exoticism of foreign territories.