Artwork
Concert of Birds
Concert of Birds is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Circle of Jan van Kessel the Elder. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting measures 13 cm in height and 18 cm in width, confirming its intimate scale and supporting its classification as a still‑life genre piece.
Concert of Birds is an oil painting executed on a copper support, reflecting 17th‑century techniques for small‑scale works. The oil medium allows fine detail and subtle tonal modeling, while the smooth copper ground enhances precision in rendering the birds. The composition demonstrates a restrained, naturalistic style characteristic of Dutch still‑life traditions, with careful attention to the birds’ postures and plumage.
The work’s handling of light and color contributes to its delicate formal balance, emphasizing the quiet interaction among the avian figures. The painting measures 13 cm in height and 18 cm in width, confirming its intimate scale and supporting its classification as a still‑life genre piece.
History & Provenance
Concert of Birds is an oil on copper painting dated 1665. Its documented provenance begins with John Mitchell, a gallery in London and New York, where the work was recorded by a photograph dated May 1956. The painting subsequently passed to Leonard Koetser Ltd. in London, which included it in the Antique Dealers' Fair in June 1960 and sold it on 20 June 1960 to Mrs. John Dimick of Chevy Chase, Maryland.
It then entered the collection of John Dimick, also of Chevy Chase, who gave it to the National Gallery of Art in 1983, where it remains held.
Concert of Birds is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it entered the institution in 1983 as a gift from John Dimick of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Its earlier ownership can be traced to John Mitchell in London and New York by 1956, and subsequently to Leonard Koetser Ltd. in London, which sold the painting in June 1960 to Mrs. John Dimick in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Documentation supporting this provenance chain includes an undated photograph in the Witt Library identifying the work with John Mitchell Galleries, a photograph dated May 1956 from the gallery's records, a Leonard Koetser Ltd. label referencing the Antique Dealers' Fair in June 1960, and the Koetser invoice dated 20 June 1960 for the sale to Mrs. Dimick, all preserved in the NGA curatorial files.
Overview
Concert of Birds is an oil painting executed on a copper support. The composition centers on a tree that serves as a gathering point for a multitude of avian figures, some perched on its branches, others standing on the ground, and a few captured in mid‑flight above water. The work is noted for its vivid palette and the diversity of bird species depicted.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a lively assembly of birds, suggesting a natural chorus or communal celebration. By arranging the creatures around a single tree and near water, the artist emphasizes themes of harmony within the natural world, inviting viewers to observe the intricate interactions among the varied species.
Context
The work’s decorative richness and dynamic composition align with characteristics of the Baroque period, a time when artists often explored dramatic movement and vivid coloration. Though specific details about the creator are absent, the painting reflects the era’s interest in naturalistic observation combined with theatrical presentation.
Artist & collection
