Artwork
Hunter and Hounds with Dead Hare
Hunter and Hounds with Dead Hare is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Paulus Potter. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650, this oil painting shows a 17th‑century gentleman in a wide‑brimmed hat and long coat holding a dead hare, flanked by a black and a white hunting dog. A distant figure walks with a staff, while a muted, earthy landscape recedes behind them. The composition centers on the interaction between the hunter and his animals, rendered with careful attention to light and shadow.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is identified as John Maurice, Prince of Nassau‑Siegen, presented in a typical hunting tableau that celebrates aristocratic sport and mastery over nature. The dead hare and attentive dogs underscore themes of pursuit and triumph, while the calm demeanor of the prince suggests control and genteel authority within the rural setting.
Technique & Style
Potter employs a low‑angle perspective, a hallmark of his work, allowing the viewer to look up at the figures. His palette is restrained, dominated by browns and ochres, and the subtle chiaroscuro models the forms, giving the fur and fabric tactile quality. The rendering of the dogs’ contrasting coats demonstrates his skill in depicting animal texture.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of prolific artistic output in the Netherlands. After changing hands over the centuries, it entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch Baroque holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Paulus Potter (Dutch pronunciation: ; 20 November 1625 (baptised) – 17 January 1654 (buried)) was a Dutch painter who specialized in landscapes featuring animals, often from a low vantage point.
