Artwork
Stillleben mit Rebhühnern, Hase und Vögeln
Stillleben mit Rebhühnern, Hase und Vögeln is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Fyt. It dates from 1636 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Jan Fyt, a Flemish painter active in the early seventeenth century, completed the oil painting *Stillleben mit Rebhühnern, Hase und Vögeln* in 1636. The work belongs to the still‑life genre of the Flemish Baroque and is presently part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a dead rabbit at the centre of a tangled mass of game birds, their feathers rendered with meticulous detail. The composition emphasizes the transience of life and the abundance of the hunt, a common theme in Baroque still lifes that juxtaposes vitality with mortality.
Technique & Style
Fyt employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting deep, velvety shadows with sharply illuminated surfaces. This lighting scheme accentuates the texture of the rabbit’s fur and the sheen of the birds’ plumage, creating a three‑dimensional effect that draws the viewer’s eye to the central forms.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the painting has remained within European collections, ultimately entering the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings. The museum acquired it as part of its extensive Baroque assemblage, where it is displayed alongside other Flemish works of the period.
Legacy
Fyt’s still lifes are noted for their elaborate arrangements of flora, fruit, and hunted game, a formula that influenced younger artists such as Pieter Boel. By integrating naturalistic detail with theatrical lighting, Fyt helped define a visual language that resonated throughout the Flemish Baroque tradition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Fijt, Jan Fijt or Johannes Fijt (or Fyt) (19 August 1609 – 11 September 1661) was a Flemish Baroque painter, draughtsman and etcher.
