Artwork
Dead Game
Dead Game is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton. It dates from 1718 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton, a painter born in the Southern Netherlands who later worked in Austria, completed the oil painting *Dead Game* in 1718. The canvas belongs to the Flemish Baroque tradition and is currently part of the collection at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a still‑life tableau of hunted birds. A large white bird lies on its back with wings outstretched, surrounded by several smaller avian forms, some appearing wounded. The arrangement emphasizes the transitory nature of the hunt, inviting contemplation of mortality and the quiet aftermath of the chase.
Technique & Style
Hamilton employs strong chiaroscuro, lighting the birds against a deep, shadowy backdrop that hints at foliage. The contrast of illuminated flesh and surrounding darkness creates a dramatic tension, while the smooth brushwork renders feather texture and the stillness of the scene with a restrained realism characteristic of early‑18th‑century Flemish Baroque.
History & Provenance
After its creation in 1718, the work entered various private collections before being acquired by the State Hermitage Museum, where it has remained on display. Its provenance reflects the artist’s reputation for animal and game subjects, a niche that secured his commissions across the Austrian Habsburg territories.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton (c. 1664 – 1750), was an 18th-century painter from the Southern Netherlands active in Austria.
