Who painted Dead Game?

Dead Game was painted by Ferdinand Bol in 1646.

Where can I see Dead Game?

Dead Game is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Dead Game?

Dead Game is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Dead Game?

Museum-quality prints of Dead Game are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Dead Game

Ferdinand Bol , 1646

Dead Game is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ferdinand Bol. It dates from 1646 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Ferdinand Bol’s 1646 oil painting Dead Game belongs to the Dutch Golden Age tradition of still‑life. Executed in the mid‑17th century, the work presents a quiet, realistic tableau of hunted birds arranged on a darkened surface, illuminated by a warm, directional light. The composition reflects the period’s interest in detailed observation and the moral undertones of mortality.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas shows several dead birds, a white bird with a fresh wound on its neck, a brown bird suspended from a hook, and additional feathers scattered nearby. By foregrounding the lifeless game against a somber backdrop, the painting invites contemplation of the fleeting nature of life and the abundance derived from the hunt, themes common in Dutch still‑life symbolism.

Technique & Style

Bol employs chiaroscuro to model the forms, allowing the warm light to carve out volume and create a sense of three‑dimensionality. The subtle gradations of shadow against the dark background enhance the textures of plumage and flesh, while the restrained palette and careful brushwork convey a tactile realism characteristic of his training under Rembrandt.

History & Provenance

Created in 1646, Dead Game is among the relatively few surviving works by Bol, whose oeuvre is limited compared to his contemporaries. The painting entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century Dutch art.