Artwork

Bird-Catching by a Decoy with a Whistle and Net (Decorative painting for a supper-box at Vauxhall Gardens, London)

Bird-Catching by a Decoy with a Whistle and Net (Decorative painting for a supper-box at Vauxhall Gardens, London) is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Francis Hayman. It dates from 1741 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Bird-Catching by a Decoy with a Whistle and Net is an oil painting created in 1741 by Francis Hayman for a supper-box at Vauxhall Gardens, London. It is one of seven related works by Hayman in the V&A collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a serene scene of bird-catching, featuring a kneeling woman in a detailed blue and brown dress, surrounded by muted trees, a prominent cloudy sky, and distant figures by water. The subject, inspired by French art influences (notably Watteau and Lancret engravings), conveys tranquility.

Technique & Style

Hayman employed chiaroscuro, leveraging strong light-dark contrasts to achieve depth and volume. The work showcases detailed rendering of the woman’s attire and subtle, muted coloration of the natural setting.

History & Provenance

Originally part of Vauxhall Gardens’ decorations, the painting was later acquired by the V&A in 1986, joining six other related Hayman pieces in the collection.

Context

Created for a public leisure space (Vauxhall Gardens), the work reflects 18th-century tastes for pastoral, leisurely themes in decorative art, influenced by French artistic trends.

Legacy

As part of the V&A’s collection, it contributes to the understanding of Hayman’s oeuvre and the aesthetic of 18th-century British decorative arts influenced by European styles.

Bird-Catching by a Decoy with a Whistle and a Net (decorative painting for a supper-box at Vauxhall Gardens, London), Francis Hayman

Artist & collection

Artist

Francis Hayman

Francis Hayman (1708 – 2 February 1776) was an English painter and illustrator who became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768, and later its first librarian.