Artwork
A Hen with Peacocks and a Turkey
A Hen with Peacocks and a Turkey is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Melchior d' Hondecoeter. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1690 by Dutch painter Melchior d’Hondecoeter, this oil on canvas presents a grouping of domestic and ornamental birds.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1690 by Dutch painter Melchior d’Hondecoeter, this oil on canvas presents a grouping of domestic and ornamental birds. The composition includes a sizable turkey, a hen, and two peacocks arranged within a naturalistic setting. The work exemplifies the artist’s focus on avian subjects and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The scene gathers a turkey, a hen, and peacocks, each rendered in distinct postures that suggest a casual interaction among the birds. By juxtaposing familiar farm fowl with exotic peafowl, d’Hondecoeter highlights the diversity of feathered life and invites contemplation of the relationship between the ordinary and the ornamental in a garden-like environment.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting displays meticulous attention to feather detail, from the turkey’s dark, layered plumage to the iridescent blues and greens of the peacocks. A warm, earthy background recedes behind the birds, creating depth and a sense of atmospheric space while allowing the vivid colors of the subjects to stand out.
History & Provenance
Melchior d’Hondecoeter, active in Utrecht and later Amsterdam, was renowned for his bird studies during the Dutch Golden Age. This particular work, reflecting his specialty in combining exotic and game species, entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch painting collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Melchior d'Hondecoeter (Dutch pronunciation: ; c. 1636 – 3 April 1695), Dutch animalier painter, was born in Utrecht and died in Amsterdam. After the start of his career, he painted virtually exclusively bird subjects,…
