Artwork
A Rooster and Turkey Fighting
A Rooster and Turkey Fighting is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Melchior d' Hondecoeter. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Such scenes were a recurring motif in Dutch still-life and animal painting of the period, where avian battles were read as allegories of conflict or rivalry.
The painting depicts two birds locked in combat: a rooster on the left and a turkey on the right, both rendered with attention to plumage and posture that heightens their aggressive interaction. Such scenes were a recurring motif in Dutch still-life and animal painting of the period, where avian battles were read as allegories of conflict or rivalry.
In the context of late-seventeenth-century Dutch art, the confrontation likely carried broader connotations of strife or the unpredictable nature of life, rather than a literal reading of species rivalry. The composition’s dramatic staging and naturalistic detail align with the artist’s reputation for animating animal subjects with vivid realism.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 137.2 cm in height by 166.4 cm in width. Melchior d'Hondecoeter worked in the animal painting genre, a specialization for which he became known in the Netherlands during the late 17th century. The composition depicts a dramatic confrontation between a rooster and a turkey, typical of Hondecoeter's focus on lively, naturalistic animal subjects.
History & Provenance
The painting A Rooster and Turkey Fighting was created by Melchior d'Hondecoeter in 1680 within the Netherlands. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 137.2 cm in height and 166.4 cm in width. It is currently part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1986.59.
The specific circumstances regarding its initial commission or the detailed chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are not detailed in the available records.
A Rooster and Turkey Fighting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under the accession number 1986.59. The painting entered the museum's holdings as part of its permanent collection, and it is documented as an oil-on-canvas work produced in 1680 by Melchior d'Hondecoeter in the Netherlands.
No exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
Melchior d'Hondecoeter, a Dutch painter celebrated for his animal subjects, completed A Rooster and Turkey Fighting in 1690. This oil painting exemplifies his dedication to avian life, capturing a dramatic confrontation set within a cultivated garden. The artwork is a product of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of significant artistic flourishing, and is presently part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Context
Born in Utrecht and active in Amsterdam, Melchior d'Hondecoeter was a notable figure during the Dutch Golden Age, specializing in depictions of birds. He was particularly known for portraying exotic and game species within elegant, park-like environments, a genre that appealed to contemporary collectors. This painting aligns with his signature style, blending detailed natural observation with a theatrical presentation of animal behavior.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Melchior d'Hondecoeter (Dutch pronunciation:; c. 1636 – 3 April 1695), Dutch animalier painter, was born in Utrecht and died in Amsterdam. After the start of his career, he painted virtually exclusively bird subjects,…
