Who painted Study of Birds and Monkeys?

Study of Birds and Monkeys was painted by Circle of Jan van Kessel the Elder in 1660/1670.

Where can I see Study of Birds and Monkeys?

Study of Birds and Monkeys is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study of Birds and Monkeys?

Study of Birds and Monkeys is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Study of Birds and Monkeys

Circle of Jan van Kessel the Elder , 1665

Study of Birds and Monkeys 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 work is an oil painting executed on a copper support, a material choice typical of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish still lifes.

The work is an oil painting executed on a copper support, a material choice typical of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish still lifes. The surface bears the fine brushwork and luminous tonal modelling associated with the anonymous Dutch master active in the mid-1600s, whose style blends meticulous naturalistic detail with a compact compositional layout. The painting’s handling of foliage and animal forms demonstrates a precise rendering of texture and spatial depth, characteristic of the period’s emphasis on observable nature.

The work’s dimensions are recorded as 10.5 cm in height and 17.2 cm in width, reflecting the small scale often employed for cabinet pictures intended for private display.

These formal qualities align with the stylistic traits identified in the National Gallery of Art’s catalogue entry for the piece, which situates it within the anonymous Dutch school and notes its technical affinity with works attributed to Jan van Kessel.

History & Provenance

Study of Birds and Monkeys is an oil on copper painting created in 1665. It entered the National Gallery of Art's collection through a documented chain: it was held in a private collection in Germany, sold at Galerie Fischer in Lucerne on 21-25 and 27-29 November 1972 (sale no. 2536, listed as a pair with NGA 1983.19.2), then acquired by John Dimick of Chevy Chase, Maryland, before being gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1983.

Study of Birds and Monkeys is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it was accessioned in 1983 as a gift from John Dimick of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Prior to that, the painting had passed through a private collection in Germany and was offered at Galerie Fischer in Lucerne from 21–25 and 27–29 November 1972, listed as lot 2536 and sold as a pair with the related NGA accession 1983.19.2. No further exhibition history beyond these provenance transactions is documented in the available sources.

The painting's NGA accession number is 1983.19.1, corresponding to the 1983 gift.

Overview

The work titled “Study of Birds and Monkeys” is an oil painting executed on a copper support. It presents a lively grouping of avian and primate figures set against a muted beige backdrop, which accentuates the bright hues of the creatures. The composition balances a large bird on the left, a smaller bird perched above, and a second large bird accompanied by a hanging monkey on the right.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a small naturalistic scene in which birds and a monkey share a common arboreal space. While no explicit narrative is provided, the juxtaposition of species may reflect an interest in comparative anatomy or the diversity of tropical fauna, inviting viewers to observe the distinct postures and interactions of the animals.