Artwork
A rooster with chickens, pigeons and a marmot
A rooster with chickens, pigeons and a marmot is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacomo Victors. It dates from 1674 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a rooster alongside chickens, pigeons and a marmot, central figures in a barnyard scene that merges domestic poultry with a wild rodent.
The painting shows a rooster alongside chickens, pigeons and a marmot, central figures in a barnyard scene that merges domestic poultry with a wild rodent. In Dutch animal art of the late 17th century, such groupings often conveyed abundance and the interdependence of farm life, while the rooster’s crowing symbolised vigilance and the heralding of daylight. Victors’ work reflects the period’s fascination with naturalistic detail, presenting each bird and animal with individual character.
The inclusion of the marmot adds a note of rustic charm, reinforcing the idyllic countryside setting. The composition celebrates the harmony of rural ecosystems and may also allude to themes of fertility and the cyclical nature of nature.
The piece is housed in the Rijksmuseum, where it is catalogued as an oil on canvas work measuring 128 cm by 111 cm, painted in 1674.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on canvas, a standard support for Dutch paintings of the period. The surface bears the characteristic handling of Jacomo Victors, whose brushwork in this piece combines fine detail in the plumage of the rooster and marmot with looser, impressionistic strokes for the surrounding birds and foliage. Formal analysis notes a balanced composition that juxtaposes the dominant rooster with subordinate chickens and pigeons, creating a naturalistic yet slightly idealized scene typical of 17th‑century animal art. The painting’s dimensions of 128 cm by 111 cm are recorded in the Rijksmuseum collection data.
History & Provenance
The painting A rooster with chickens, pigeons and a marmot was created in 1674 by the artist Jacomo Victors. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 128 cm in height and 111 cm in width. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located.
No further details regarding its commission, specific ownership chain prior to the museum, or creation circumstances are provided in the available records.
Overview
Jacomo Victors’ oil painting, completed in 1674, presents a modest tableau of domestic and wild fauna gathered on a stark, rocky surface. Central to the composition is a vividly colored rooster, surrounded by subdued chickens, two perched pigeons, and a small, light‑furred marmot. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s interest in everyday animal subjects.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
