Artwork
Murmeltier
Murmeltier is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton. It dates from 1707 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Murmeltier, painted in 1707 by Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton, is a Flemish Baroque painting featuring a guinea pig in a contemplative pose. Part of the Alte Pinakothek's collection, it exemplifies Hamilton's penchant for detailed animal depictions.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a predominantly white guinea pig with darker fur patches, stands on its hind legs on a leafy plant, facing right. The composition conveys a sense of quiet contemplation, as if the animal is absorbed in thought.
Technique & Style
Hamilton employs a dark background to create a striking contrast with the guinea pig, leveraging chiaroscuro to enhance the subject's visibility and emotional depth, characteristic of Flemish Baroque's emphasis on dramatic lighting.
History & Provenance
Created in 1707 during Hamilton's activity in Austria, the painting is now held in the Alte Pinakothek's collection, reflecting the artist's reputation for detailed animal still-life compositions.
Context
Murmeltier fits within the broader Flemish Baroque tradition, where detailed, often intimate, depictions of nature and animals were common, frequently incorporating elements of still life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton (c. 1664 – 1750), was an 18th-century painter from the Southern Netherlands active in Austria.
