Who painted Stillleben mit toten Vögeln?

Stillleben mit toten Vögeln was painted by Jan Weenix in 1690.

Where can I see Stillleben mit toten Vögeln?

Stillleben mit toten Vögeln is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Stillleben mit toten Vögeln?

Stillleben mit toten Vögeln is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Stillleben mit toten Vögeln

Jan Weenix , 1690

Stillleben mit toten Vögeln is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Weenix. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Executed in 1690, Stillleben mit toten Vögeln is a Dutch Golden Age still‑life by Jan Weenix. The canvas presents a carefully arranged group of dead birds, rendered with the compositional balance typical of late‑seventeenth‑century Dutch genre painting. The work exemplifies the period’s fascination with the transience of life and the display of hunting trophies.

Subject & Meaning

The painting’s central motif, lifeless game birds, reflects the era’s symbolic preoccupation with mortality and abundance. By juxtaposing the pristine, almost sculptural birds against a subdued background, the image invites contemplation of nature’s cycles and the social status associated with hunting spoils in Dutch society.

Technique & Style

Weenix employs a restrained palette and soft, blended brushwork to model the birds’ feathers, achieving a delicate sense of volume. Subtle chiaroscuro creates a gentle transition from light to shadow, lending the composition a quiet, contemplative atmosphere while emphasizing the tactile qualities of the plumage.

History & Provenance

The painting entered the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display. Jan Weenix, trained by his father Jan Baptist Weenix and his cousin Melchior d’Hondecoeter, specialized in hunting scenes; this work is representative of his mature output and illustrates the continuation of a family tradition within Dutch still‑life painting.