Who painted Still life with a Hare and Other Game?

Still life with a Hare and Other Game was painted by Jan Weenix in 1699.

Where can I see Still life with a Hare and Other Game?

Still life with a Hare and Other Game is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Still life with a Hare and Other Game?

Still life with a Hare and Other Game is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Still life with a Hare and Other Game?

Museum-quality prints of Still life with a Hare and Other Game are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Still life with a Hare and Other Game

Jan Weenix , 1699

Still life with a Hare and Other Game is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Weenix. It dates from 1699 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1699, this oil painting presents a composition of hunted game arranged on a darkened surface.

About this work

Technique & Style

5 cm in height by 96 cm in width, reflecting the modest yet carefully composed format favored by Weenix for game pieces.

The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, a support typical of late 17th-century Dutch still lifes. Its dimensions measure 114.5 cm in height by 96 cm in width, reflecting the modest yet carefully composed format favored by Weenix for game pieces. The brushwork displays a controlled handling of light and texture, with fine detailing in the fur and feathers of the hare and surrounding game, contributing to a naturalistic yet slightly opulent still-life arrangement.

History & Provenance

Still life with a Hare and Other Game is an oil painting created in 1697 by Dutch artist Jan Weenix, depicting game birds in a composition characteristic of late 17th-century still life traditions. The work measures 114.5 cm by 96 cm and was originally owned by Gerrit van der Pot before entering the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.

The painting's provenance traces a clear ownership chain beginning with its creation for van der Pot, a noted Dutch art collector and regent, reflecting typical patterns of art acquisition among Amsterdam's elite during the Dutch Golden Age.

Still life with a Hare and Other Game is held in the Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam, accessioned under the inventory number SK-A-2654. The work entered the museum through the Gerrit van der Pot bequest in 1888. It was exhibited in the Rijksmuseum's 1905 Dutch Masters exhibition and again in the 2014 exhibition 'Dutch Still Lifes from the Golden Age'.

Overview

Created in 1699, this oil painting presents a composition of hunted game arranged on a darkened surface. A hare lies stretched across the foreground, its fur rendered in subtle whites and browns, while a bird and a rabbit rest on a shallow plate. Behind the tableau, a muted backdrop features a glimpse of foliage, a reflective mirror and a red drapery, establishing a stark contrast between light and shadow.

Subject & Meaning

The work exemplifies the Dutch tradition of still life that celebrates the abundance of the hunt, portraying the moment after the chase. By assembling the hare, bird and rabbit, the artist underscores themes of mortality and the transitory nature of material wealth, inviting contemplation of the fleeting triumph of human conquest over nature.

Context

During the Dutch Golden Age, still lifes featuring game served both decorative and didactic purposes, reflecting the prosperity of a mercantile society and its fascination with naturalistic observation. Weenix, trained alongside his cousin Melchior d’Hondecoeter, inherited a family workshop that specialized in such subjects, positioning him within a lineage of animal painters who emphasized verisimilitude.