Artwork
Preparing for Christmas (Plucking Turkeys)
Preparing for Christmas (Plucking Turkeys) is an oil painting by the Hudson River School artist Francis William Edmonds. It dates from 1851 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a specific moment of holiday preparation, focusing on the interaction between the human figure and the bird within a likely domestic setting.
Francis William Edmonds' 1851 oil painting, Preparing for Christmas (Plucking Turkeys), is a genre scene depicting a man engaged in the domestic task of plucking a domesticated turkey. The work captures a specific moment of holiday preparation, focusing on the interaction between the human figure and the bird within a likely domestic setting. As a genre painting, the piece derives its meaning from the representation of everyday life and common activities rather than mythological or historical narratives.
The subject matter directly references the culinary traditions associated with the Christmas season, illustrating the practical labor involved in festive meal preparation. The depiction of the man and the turkey serves as a straightforward visual record of 19th-century American holiday customs and the role of livestock in domestic sustenance.
Technique & Style
Francis William Edmonds executed Preparing for Christmas (Plucking Turkeys) in 1851 using oil paint on a canvas support. This work adheres to the conventions of the genre painting tradition, focusing on a domestic scene that depicts a man engaged in the task of plucking a domesticated turkey. The medium of oil on canvas allows for the nuanced rendering of textures and light characteristic of mid-19th-century American genre scenes.
As a work held within the collection of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the painting presents a formal study of everyday life, utilizing the versatility of oil to capture the specific details of the subject matter. The composition centers on the interaction between the human figure and the animal, rendered through the artist's distinct handling of the oil medium on the woven canvas ground.
History & Provenance
The 1851 oil painting Preparing for Christmas (Plucking Turkeys) by Francis William Edmonds is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Within the institution, the work is classified under The American Wing. The provided records confirm the museum as the current location and custodian of the piece, though specific inventory or accession numbers are not detailed in the available documentation.
Furthermore, while the work's physical presence at the museum is established, the sources do not list any specific past or present exhibitions in which the painting has been displayed.
Context
Preparing for Christmas (Plucking Turkeys) is an 1851 oil on canvas genre painting by Francis William Edmonds, depicting a man engaged in the seasonal task of plucking turkeys. The work exemplifies mid‑nineteenth‑century American genre scenes that combine narrative detail with domestic subject matter. Classified as a genre scene and listed within The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it reflects the artist’s focus on everyday life and his skill in rendering anecdotal compositions.
Its inclusion in the museum’s collection underscores its significance as a representative example of American genre painting during the period.
Overview
Francis William Edmonds's 1851 oil on canvas, "Preparing for Christmas (Plucking Turkeys)," presents a genre scene from 19th-century American life. Housed within The American Wing, the painting captures a moment of domestic labor, specifically the preparation of poultry for a holiday meal. It offers a direct visual record of everyday routines and the practicalities of household management during that period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francis William Edmonds was born November 22, 1806, in Hudson, New York, into a large Quaker family.
Just Moved
Sharpening the Scythe
Measurement and Contemplation
At the Camp—Spinning Yarns and Whittling
Talking It Over
On Their Way to Camp
Leisure and Labor
Boerengezelschap binnenshuis
Red School House (Country Scene)
The Tough Story - Scene in a Country Tavern
En scene i værtshuset Brokkensbod- Turkey Shoot