Artwork
Totes Geflügel
Totes Geflügel is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Johann Georg Waxschlunger. It dates from 1713 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1713 by Johann Georg Waxschlunger, this oil painting titled *Totes Geflügel* is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work presents a quiet tableau dominated by a group of birds lying on the ground, rendered in a restrained colour range that emphasizes the stillness of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on several avian figures that appear lifeless or wounded, positioned against a subdued landscape. By isolating these creatures in a muted environment, the artist invites contemplation of mortality and the fragility of life, allowing the viewer to engage with the somber narrative without overt symbolism.
Technique & Style
Waxschlunger employs careful modelling of light and shadow to achieve a convincing sense of volume, while subtle textural brushwork suggests the plumage and ground surface. The limited palette of earth tones and deep shadows contributes to a realistic yet atmospheric rendering, enhancing the depth and tactile quality of the painting.
History & Provenance
Since its execution in the early eighteenth century, the canvas has remained in the public domain, eventually entering the holdings of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. Its attribution to Waxschlunger is supported by stylistic analysis and archival records, confirming its place within the artist’s modest oeuvre of genre scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
This 1713 painter made three oil-on-canvas scenes of Vienna’s Danube riverfront, all dated that year.
