Artwork
The Creation of Birds
The Creation of Birds is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Roelant Savery. It dates from 1619 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1619, *The Creation of Birds* is an oil painting by Roelant Savery, a Flemish-born artist who worked in the Dutch Republic during the early seventeenth century. The work exemplifies the naturalistic approach of the Dutch Golden Age, depicting a verdant woodland scene populated by a variety of waterfowl. It is part of the permanent collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a tranquil forest clearing beside a water body, where swans, ducks and other birds gather, fly, or rest on branches. By assembling numerous avian species within a single, harmonious setting, Savery evokes the biblical notion of creation, emphasizing the abundance and diversity of life as a celebration of nature’s vitality.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting displays Savery’s meticulous attention to detail. Fine brushwork renders the texture of feathers and foliage, while subtle gradations of light create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The naturalistic rendering aligns with the scientific curiosity of the period, blending observation with a lyrical, almost idealized landscape.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the work remained in private hands before entering the Fitzwilliam Museum’s collection, where it has been displayed since the early twentieth century. Its presence in a major university museum reflects the lasting scholarly interest in Savery’s contributions to Dutch Golden Age painting and his reputation as a skilled observer of the natural world.
Artist & collection
Artist
Roelant Savery (or Roeland(t) Maertensz Saverij, or de Savery, or many variants; 1576 – buried 25 February 1639) was a Flanders-born Dutch Golden Age painter.
