Artwork
A Hilly Landscape with a Peacock, an Eagle and other Birds
A Hilly Landscape with a Peacock, an Eagle and other Birds is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jan van Kessel the Elder. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created circa 1662, this oil painting presents a hilly, rocky landscape populated by an assortment of birds.
About this work
Overview
A peacock dominates the left foreground with its plumage fully displayed, while an eagle perches on a branch nearby, observing the scene.
Created circa 1662, this oil painting presents a hilly, rocky landscape populated by an assortment of birds. A peacock dominates the left foreground with its plumage fully displayed, while an eagle perches on a branch nearby, observing the scene. Smaller avian figures are scattered throughout, some in flight and others at rest, set against twisted trees and a muted sky rendered in subtle tonal variations.
Subject & Meaning
The composition functions as a visual inventory of bird species, juxtaposing the flamboyant peacock with the predatory eagle to highlight contrasts in temperament and appearance. The inclusion of numerous lesser birds adds a sense of natural abundance, suggesting an idealized observation of wildlife within a harmonious environment.
Technique & Style
Executed in the northern Renaissance tradition, the work employs a restrained palette of grays and muted earth tones, emphasizing line and form over color. Fine, delicate brushwork delineates feather detail, while soft shading creates depth in the rocky terrain and foliage, reflecting the artist’s meticulous approach to naturalistic representation.
History & Provenance
The painting is attributed to Jan van Kessel the Elder, a Flemish painter active in Antwerp during the mid‑17th century. It forms part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it has been held since its acquisition by the institution, contributing to the museum’s holdings of Flemish baroque art.
Context
Van Kessel’s oeuvre spans landscapes, still lifes, and animal studies, drawing inspiration from his grandfather Jan Brueghel the Elder and earlier Flemish masters. This piece reflects the period’s interest in detailed natural studies and the decorative potential of bird motifs within a broader baroque aesthetic.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Kessel the Elder or Jan van Kessel (I) (baptized 5 April 1626, Antwerp – 17 April 1679, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the mid-17th century.
