Who painted A Partridge and Small Game Birds?

A Partridge and Small Game Birds was painted by Jan Fyt in 1650-01-01.

Where can I see A Partridge and Small Game Birds?

A Partridge and Small Game Birds is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is A Partridge and Small Game Birds?

A Partridge and Small Game Birds is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Can I buy a print of A Partridge and Small Game Birds?

Museum-quality prints of A Partridge and Small Game Birds are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

A Partridge and Small Game Birds

Jan Fyt , 1650

A Partridge and Small Game Birds is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Fyt. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

The arrangement of birds on a shallow ledge, against a dark background, focuses attention on texture and volume rather than spatial illusion.

The painting employs oil on canvas, a medium typical of Flemish still lifes of the mid-seventeenth century. Handling shows confident, fluid brushwork with layered glazes to build depth in the plumage of the partridge and the soft contours of the small game birds, while highlights are rendered with delicate, almost translucent scumbles. Stylistically, the composition adheres to the pronkstillevens tradition, balancing naturalistic detail against a restrained yet opulent palette of earthy browns, muted greens, and silvery grays.

The arrangement of birds on a shallow ledge, against a dark background, focuses attention on texture and volume rather than spatial illusion. The overall finish appears well preserved, with only minor craquelure visible in the darker passages.

History & Provenance

Created in 1650, the oil painting A Partridge and Small Game Birds was executed by the Flemish artist Jan Fyt. The work is classified as a still life depicting various game birds on a canvas support. Historical records indicate that the piece was once owned by William T. Blodgett before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

While the specific commission details and the exact chain of custody between its creation and Blodgett's ownership are not detailed in the available records, the work's inception is firmly dated to the year 1650. The painting currently resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is cataloged as a significant example of Fyt's avian still-life genre.

Overview

A Partridge and Small Game Birds, an oil painting created around 1650 by the Flemish Baroque artist Jan Fyt, is a still life composition. This work exemplifies Fyt's renowned specialization in animal subjects and reflects the period's emphasis on detailed, naturalistic depictions. The painting is housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, serving as a notable example of 17th-century Flemish artistic output.

Subject & Meaning

The artwork depicts a collection of dead game birds, featuring partridges alongside smaller fowl, arranged in a seemingly haphazard pile. Their plumage is rendered with a palpable texture, and some wings are shown partially extended. A delicate branch adorned with red berries occupies a corner of the foreground, offering a subtle visual counterpoint. The scene evokes a profound sense of quietude and immobility.

Context

Jan Fyt was a significant Flemish Baroque painter active in the early to mid-17th century, celebrated for his mastery of still life and animal subjects. This painting embodies the artistic conventions of its era, which prioritized meticulous observation and a realistic depiction of the natural world. Fyt's contributions enriched the Flemish tradition that esteemed the tangible qualities of both objects and living creatures.