Artwork
Peacocks, Ducks and other Animals
Peacocks, Ducks and other Animals is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter. It dates from 1631 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1631, this oil painting presents a bustling tableau of birds, chiefly peacocks and ducks, set amid a modest woodland backdrop.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1631, this oil painting presents a bustling tableau of birds, chiefly peacocks and ducks, set amid a modest woodland backdrop. The composition groups the fauna in a naturalistic arrangement, allowing each creature to be observed within a shared environment of trees and shrubbery, rendered in a restrained palette of earth tones.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on domestic and wild avian species, reflecting a 17th‑century Dutch fascination with the observation of nature and the study of animal forms. By assembling a variety of birds together, the artist invites contemplation of biodiversity and the harmonious coexistence of different species within a cultivated landscape.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting displays meticulous attention to the surface qualities of feathers and bark. Visible brushwork conveys texture and movement, while the muted browns and greens emphasize realism over decorative color. The handling of light and shadow enhances the three‑dimensionality of the figures, characteristic of Dutch naturalist painting.
History & Provenance
Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter, a member of Utrecht’s Guild of St. Luke from 1629, produced the piece during the Dutch Golden Age, a period noted for detailed animal studies. The canvas entered the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of 17th‑century Dutch art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter (1604 – 29 August 1653) was a Dutch landscape and animalier painter.
