Who painted A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit?

A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit was painted by Jan Fyt in 1636-01-01.

Where can I see A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit?

A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit?

A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit?

Museum-quality prints of A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit

Jan Fyt , 1636

A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Fyt. It dates from 1636 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Executed in 1636, this oil painting by Jan Fyt presents a complex still life arrangement featuring a dead hare, partridges, and an assortment of fruit.

Executed in 1636, this oil painting by Jan Fyt presents a complex still life arrangement featuring a dead hare, partridges, and an assortment of fruit. The composition also incorporates a dog alongside the avian and botanical elements. As a work within the still life genre, the piece focuses on the depiction of these specific natural objects, bringing together game birds, a rabbit, and produce into a unified visual study.

The inclusion of the dog interacting with or observing the hunted game and harvest suggests a narrative element common to such compositions, emphasizing the bounty of the hunt and the earth's fruits.

Technique & Style

The painting employs oil on canvas, a standard support for Flemish still-life works of the 1630s. Handling is precise and controlled, with fine brushwork used to render the fur of the hare, the plumage of the partridges, and the varied textures of fruits and foliage. The composition balances naturalistic detail with a refined, almost jewel-like finish, typical of Antwerp still-life specialists of the period.

Subtle glazing enhances depth and luminosity, particularly in the reflective surfaces of the fruit and the soft sheen of the animal fur. The overall condition appears stable, though minor abrasions are visible under raking light in the darker passages, consistent with age and historical handling.

History & Provenance

Jan Fyt created the oil painting A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit in 1636. The work was executed on canvas and measures 95.3 cm in height by 110.5 cm in width. While the specific commission details remain unrecorded in the available data, the piece was later acquired by Michael Friedsam.

Following Friedsam's ownership, the painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed. The artwork depicts a still life arrangement featuring fruit, birds, a rabbit, and a dog, reflecting Fyt's specialization in animal and hunting scenes during the early 17th century.

Overview

Painted in 1636 by the Flemish Baroque artist Jan Fyt, A Hare, Partridges, and Fruit is a quintessential example of the hunting still life genre. The composition features a dead hare suspended from a hook in the upper left, its fur rendered with meticulous textural detail. Below, two partridges rest upon a white damask cloth that drapes over a stone ledge, creating a contrast between the soft plumage and the crisp fabric.

A woven basket overflows with grapes, peaches, and apples, their skins depicted with a luminous quality that emphasizes ripeness and volume. Fyt employs a dark, neutral background to isolate the subjects, allowing the interplay of light and shadow to define their forms and enhance the three-dimensional illusion. This work reflects Fyt's early mastery of animal painting, a skill he developed under Frans Snyders.

The arrangement demonstrates the artist's ability to balance chaotic natural elements with a structured composition, establishing the dynamic energy characteristic of his mature style. Created during the height of the Dutch and Flemish still life tradition, the piece exemplifies the period's fascination with the abundance of nature and the technical virtuosity required to capture diverse textures within a single frame.