Where can I see Bird Shoot in Brussels?

Bird Shoot in Brussels is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Bird Shoot in Brussels?

Bird Shoot in Brussels is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of Bird Shoot in Brussels?

Museum-quality prints of Bird Shoot in Brussels are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Bird Shoot in Brussels

David Teniers the Younger , 1650

Bird Shoot in Brussels is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist David Teniers the Younger. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

David Teniers the Younger's 1650 painting captures a specific civic event known as a popinjay shoot, a traditional archery or shooting competition.

David Teniers the Younger's 1650 painting captures a specific civic event known as a popinjay shoot, a traditional archery or shooting competition. The scene is set in Brussels, with the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon serving as a distinct architectural backdrop. Central to the iconography is the presence of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, whose inclusion elevates the work from a mere genre scene to a record of aristocratic participation in local customs.

The depiction of the popinjay, a bird-shaped target mounted on a pole, symbolizes the skill and prestige associated with these guild competitions. By integrating the ruling Archduke into a communal Flemish tradition, the artwork represents the intersection of courtly authority and civic life in the Southern Netherlands.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil on canvas painting executed in 1650, measuring 172 cm in height and 247 cm in width. It depicts a bird shooting scene set within an architectural interior that includes the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon, a popinjay target, and Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria. The composition is rendered with meticulous detail typical of David Teniers the Younger's baroque style, emphasizing clarity of form and balanced spatial arrangement.

History & Provenance

The work titled "Bird Shoot in Brussels" was painted by David Teniers the Younger in 1650. It was created for Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, who is depicted alongside a popinjay and the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon. The painting entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains on view.

The canvas measures 172 cm in height and 247 cm in width.

The painting Bird Shoot in Brussels (1650) is housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. It entered the museum's collection as part of the Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria's holdings and remains on permanent display in the gallery dedicated to 17th‑century Flemish masters.

The work measures 172 cm in height and 247 cm in width.

Overview

Created around 1650, this oil painting by David Teniers the Younger captures a bustling urban scene in Brussels. Central to the composition is a ceremonial bird‑shooting event attended by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria. The work is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

Context

The Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon, depicted in the background, was a notable landmark in Brussels during the Spanish Netherlands period. The scene reflects the city’s social hierarchy, with aristocratic patrons, municipal officials, and ordinary citizens sharing a public space during a ceremonial sport.