Who painted Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare?

Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare was painted by José del Castillo in 1774.

Where can I see Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare?

Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare?

Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare?

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

Artwork

Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare

José del Castillo , 1774

Still-Life with Game Birds and a Hare is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist José del Castillo. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1774 by the Madrid‑based painter and engraver José del Castillo, this oil on canvas belongs to the still‑life tradition of the late Rococo period. The composition presents a group of hunted game, a hare and two birds, arranged on a rustic ledge, with architectural elements and a distant landscape visible behind them. The work is part of the Museo del Prado’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting foregrounds a wild hare and a pair of birds caught in a twisted branch, their fur and plumage rendered with a tactile quality. The inclusion of game animals reflects the 18th‑century fascination with hunting trophies and the display of abundance, while the modest architectural backdrop hints at a cultivated, perhaps aristocratic, setting.

Technique & Style

The delicate handling of shadows and highlights contributes to a gentle, almost luminous atmosphere typical of the period’s decorative sensibility.

Del Castillo employs a refined Rococo palette, emphasizing soft, diffused light that caresses the animal forms and foliage. Meticulous brushwork captures the texture of fur, feather, and stone, while subtle chiaroscuro creates depth and a sense of three‑dimensionality. The delicate handling of shadows and highlights contributes to a gentle, almost luminous atmosphere typical of the period’s decorative sensibility.

History & Provenance

After its completion, the canvas entered the Spanish royal collection before being transferred to the Museo del Prado, where it remains on public view. José del Castillo, known also for designing tapestries, produced this work during a prolific phase of his career, illustrating his versatility beyond engraving and his engagement with the decorative arts of his time.

Landscape with Two Praying Monks, Antonio Francesco Peruzzini

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

José del Castillo

José del Castillo (14 October 1737, Madrid - 5 October 1793, Madrid) was a Spanish painter and engraver in the Neoclassical style. Many of his paintings were done for tapestries.