Artwork
Cock, a Hen and other Poultry
Cock, a Hen and other Poultry is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Jansz. van Ruyven. It dates from 1680 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts a small rural tableau in which a rooster, a hen, and several ducks are arranged on a patch of earth beside a modest stone wall. The composition is quiet, presenting the birds at rest within a simple landscape that emphasizes their natural posture and the surrounding ground.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on domestic poultry, highlighting the everyday presence of these birds in a countryside setting. By grouping the rooster, hen, and ducks together, the artist suggests a harmonious coexistence among different species, inviting contemplation of rural life’s routine and the subtle interactions within it.
Technique & Style
Rendered with careful attention to detail, the figures display lifelike feathering and nuanced shading. Light falls across each wing and beak, creating soft shadows that ground the birds on the soil. The brushwork balances precise rendering of texture with a gentle atmospheric tone, lending the scene a calm realism.
History & Provenance
The creator of the piece remains unidentified, and no definitive record links it to a particular workshop or period. The painting has been part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it is displayed among other works that explore similar themes of animal life and rural environments.
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Artist & collection
