Who painted Hunting Still Life?

Hunting Still Life was painted by Jan Weenix in 1708.

Where can I see Hunting Still Life?

Hunting Still Life is held by Mauritshuis.

What movement is Hunting Still Life?

Hunting Still Life is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Hunting Still Life?

Museum-quality prints of Hunting Still Life are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Hunting Still Life

Jan Weenix , 1708

Hunting Still Life is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jan Weenix. It dates from 1708 and is held in the collection of the Mauritshuis.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1708 by Dutch artist Jan Weenix, this oil painting presents a meticulously arranged hunting still life. The work is part of the Mauritshuis collection and exemplifies the decorative sensibility of the early Rococo period in the Netherlands.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a pheasant with vivid orange‑blue plumage, surrounded by other dead birds and small game. A white bird, its breast stained with blood, lies nearby, while hunting accessories—a gun, a small hat, and a horn—are scattered among foliage, suggesting the aftermath of a hunt and the display of spoils.

Technique & Style

Weenix renders each feather with fine, tactile detail and captures the reflective quality of metal objects through subtle highlights. The painting employs a chiaroscuro effect, contrasting deep shadows with sharply illuminated areas to model form and enhance the three‑dimensional illusion of the subjects.

History & Provenance

Trained under his father Jan Baptist Weenix and cousin Melchior d’Hondecoeter, Jan Weenix built a reputation for game paintings. After its creation, the canvas entered the Mauritshuis, where it remains on public view as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age holdings.

Context

During the early 18th century, Dutch still‑life painters often celebrated the bounty of the hunt, reflecting both aristocratic leisure and the region’s commercial interest in game. Weenix’s work aligns with this tradition, combining realistic observation with the ornamental elegance characteristic of the Rococo movement.