Who painted Still life with a Hare and Other Game?

Still life with a Hare and Other Game was painted by Jan Weenix in 1699.

Where can I see Still life with a Hare and Other Game?

Still life with a Hare and Other Game is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Still life with a Hare and Other Game?

Still life with a Hare and Other Game is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Still life with a Hare and Other Game?

Museum-quality prints of Still life with a Hare and Other Game are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Still life with a Hare and Other Game

Jan Weenix , 1699

Still life with a Hare and Other Game is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Weenix. It dates from 1699 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1699, this oil painting presents a composition of hunted game arranged on a darkened surface.

About this work

Overview

A hare lies stretched across the foreground, its fur rendered in subtle whites and browns, while a bird and a rabbit rest on a shallow plate.

Created in 1699, this oil painting presents a composition of hunted game arranged on a darkened surface. A hare lies stretched across the foreground, its fur rendered in subtle whites and browns, while a bird and a rabbit rest on a shallow plate. Behind the tableau, a muted backdrop features a glimpse of foliage, a reflective mirror and a red drapery, establishing a stark contrast between light and shadow.

Subject & Meaning

The work exemplifies the Dutch tradition of still life that celebrates the abundance of the hunt, portraying the moment after the chase. By assembling the hare, bird and rabbit, the artist underscores themes of mortality and the transitory nature of material wealth, inviting contemplation of the fleeting triumph of human conquest over nature.

Technique & Style

The painter employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing illumination to caress the animal pelts and feathers while the surrounding darkness recedes. Meticulous attention to texture—visible in the soft fur and the delicate plumage—creates a tactile realism. The controlled palette and precise rendering of reflective surfaces, such as the mirror, reveal a mastery of light effects characteristic of late‑17th‑century Dutch realism.

History & Provenance

Initially misattributed to Jan Baptist Weenix, the piece was later reassigned to his son, Jan Weenix, whose reputation for detailed hunting scenes grew in the early 1700s. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it remains part of the permanent holdings, offering insight into the artist’s mature period.

Context

During the Dutch Golden Age, still lifes featuring game served both decorative and didactic purposes, reflecting the prosperity of a mercantile society and its fascination with naturalistic observation. Weenix, trained alongside his cousin Melchior d’Hondecoeter, inherited a family workshop that specialized in such subjects, positioning him within a lineage of animal painters who emphasized verisimilitude.