Artwork
Geflügelstilleben
Geflügelstilleben is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Gottfried Libalt. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created in 1645, this still‑life painting presents an arrangement of poultry as its focal point.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1645, this still‑life painting presents an arrangement of poultry as its focal point. The work is attributed to Gottfried Libalt, a German painter whose career spanned several Central European cities. It is part of the Flemish Baroque tradition and currently resides in the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a group of birds, rendered with careful attention to texture and form. By highlighting the flesh and feathers of the poultry, the artist invites contemplation of everyday abundance and the material culture of the period, typical of still‑life motifs that celebrate domestic bounty.
Technique & Style
Libalt employs a Mannerist sensibility within a Baroque framework, using a rich palette and chiaroscuro to model the birds against a darkened background. The brushwork balances detailed rendering of plumage with broader, more expressive strokes, reflecting the transitional aesthetic between the refined elegance of Mannerism and the dynamism of early Baroque still life.
History & Provenance
Born around 1610‑11, Libalt worked in Hamburg, Kraków, and Vienna, and spent a brief period in Flanders circa 1660, where he may have encountered the Dutch painter Philips Wouwerman. The painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Baroque collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gottfried Libalt (1610/11 – 1 May 1673) was a German painter in the Mannerist style; known mostly for still-lifes, although he also did landscapes and portraits.
