Artwork

Păsări domestice și doi iepuri (în registrul inventar: Păsări și iepuri de casă)

Păsări domestice și doi iepuri (în registrul inventar: Păsări și iepuri de casă) is a print by the Baroque artist Jacomo Victors. It dates from 1673 and is held in the collection of the Brukenthal National Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1673 by Jacomo Victors, this oil painting—catalogued under the title “Păsări domestice și doi iepuri” (Domestic Birds and Two Rabbits)—presents a modest still‑life arrangement of farm animals. The composition is dominated by a near‑black background that isolates the subjects, allowing their forms and colors to command immediate visual attention.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts four chickens, each marked by vivid red combs and plumage rendered in earthy browns and yellows, alongside two small, fur‑covered rabbits positioned centrally. The juxtaposition of poultry and lagomorphs reflects a common Baroque interest in everyday rural life, suggesting themes of domestic abundance and the quiet intimacy of a farmyard setting.

Technique & Style

Victors employs pronounced, impasto brushwork to model the texture of feathers and fur, giving the animals a palpable sense of volume. The stark chiaroscuro—bright animal tones against a deep, almost black backdrop—heightens contrast and reinforces the three‑dimensional illusion, hallmarks of the late Baroque aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Listed in the museum’s inventory as “Păsări și iepuri de casă,” the painting has remained within the institution’s collection since its acquisition, though specific details of its early ownership are not recorded. Its continued presence offers insight into 17th‑century Romanian genre painting and the regional diffusion of Baroque visual strategies.