Artwork
Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare
Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist José del Castillo. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1774 by the Madrid‑based painter and engraver José del Castillo, this oil on canvas belongs to the still‑life tradition of the late Rococo period. The composition presents a group of hunted game—a hare and two birds—arranged on a rustic ledge, with architectural elements and a distant landscape visible behind them. The work is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting foregrounds a wild hare and a pair of birds caught in a twisted branch, their fur and plumage rendered with a tactile quality. The inclusion of game animals reflects the 18th‑century fascination with hunting trophies and the display of abundance, while the modest architectural backdrop hints at a cultivated, perhaps aristocratic, setting.
Technique & Style
The delicate handling of shadows and highlights contributes to a gentle, almost luminous atmosphere typical of the period’s decorative sensibility.
Del Castillo employs a refined Rococo palette, emphasizing soft, diffused light that caresses the animal forms and foliage. Meticulous brushwork captures the texture of fur, feather, and stone, while subtle chiaroscuro creates depth and a sense of three‑dimensionality. The delicate handling of shadows and highlights contributes to a gentle, almost luminous atmosphere typical of the period’s decorative sensibility.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the canvas entered the Spanish royal collection before being transferred to the Museo del Prado, where it remains on public view. José del Castillo, known also for designing tapestries, produced this work during a prolific phase of his career, illustrating his versatility beyond engraving and his engagement with the decorative arts of his time.
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Artist & collection
Artist
José del Castillo (14 October 1737, Madrid - 5 October 1793, Madrid) was a Spanish painter and engraver in the Neoclassical style. Many of his paintings were done for tapestries.
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