Birds and Fowl
Painting on canvas • Melchior d'Hondecoeter (Dutch, 1636–1695)
Style & Movement
Dutch Golden Age Baroque
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing fine detail in the plumage (naturalism), glazing for depth in the foliage, and dynamic lighting to emphasize the motion and texture of the birds.
Creation Period
Late 17th Century (c. 1660–1695)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 100 x 85 cm (unframed); Portrait format.
Subject Description
An intimate scene of domestic and wild birds including a central fiery red rooster, a mother hen with chicks, a duck landing from the left, and a pigeon perched above. The composition is characterized by dramatic movement and alarm, set against a rustic landscape with dense foliage and a park-like background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent. The work appears well-maintained with vibrant color preservation and stable surface characteristics typically seen in museum-housed Dutch Master paintings.
Estimated Market Value
$400,000 – $700,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$350,000 – $600,000 USD
Provenance History
Formerly from the collection of Antoine Louis Crouzat, Baron de Thiers; later acquired for the Catherine the Great collection (Hermitage); currently in the collection of the North Carolina Museum of Art (Gift of the Samuel H. Kress Foundation).
Art Historical Significance
D'Hondecoeter was known as the 'Raphael of bird painters.' This work is significant for its dramatic narrative tension and its contribution to the niche genre of avian portraiture that influenced European decorative arts for centuries.
Notable Features
Features the artist's signature use of a 'startled' composition where birds react to an incoming flight or predator; exceptional rendering of texture in the rooster's hackles and the soft down of the chicks.
Condition Issues
Minor age-related craquelure is likely present but stable; previous historic relining and minor cleaning are assumed given its museum provenance.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable humidity and temperature (50% RH, 70°F). Use UV-filtered lighting and period-appropriate carved giltwood framing to protect the original aesthetic and physical integrity.