Artwork
Ducks
Ducks is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Melchior d' Hondecoeter. It dates from 1689 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The artist employed oil paint to render the formal qualities of the subject matter, adhering to the stylistic conventions of the genre.
Created in 1677, Ducks is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. As a work of animal art by Melchior d'Hondecoeter, the piece measures 93 cm in height and 116 cm in width. The artist employed oil paint to render the formal qualities of the subject matter, adhering to the stylistic conventions of the genre.
The physical handling of the medium on the canvas allows for the detailed depiction of the ducks within the composition.
History & Provenance
The painting Ducks was created by the Dutch artist Melchior d'Hondecoeter in 1677. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 93 cm in height and 116 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the piece was once owned by Gerrit van der Pot.
The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is classified as an example of animal art.
The painting Ducks by Melchior d' Hondecoeter is housed in the Rijksmuseum, where it holds the accession number SK-C-530. It entered the collection through the bequest of Gerrit van der Pot.
The work has been featured in exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum, including the 1985 exhibition "Dutch Masters of the Golden Age" and the 2019 exhibition "Dutch Still Lifes from the Rijksmuseum."
Ducks is an oil on canvas painting measuring 93 cm in height and 116 cm in width, completed in 1677.
Overview
Ducks, an oil painting from 1689, exemplifies Melchior d'Hondecoeter's specialization in depicting birds within naturalistic, composed environments. Characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age's emphasis on detailed natural studies, the work showcases the artist's attention to avian subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a diverse group of ducks in varied poses against a backdrop of a rocky cliff and distant water, with a white bird in flight overhead. This arrangement reflects d'Hondecoeter's interest in capturing the natural behaviors and habitats of his subjects.
Context
Within the broader context of 17th-century Dutch art, Ducks aligns with the period's fascination with natural history and the detailed observation of the natural world, a theme prevalent among animalier painters.
Legacy
As a representative work of d'Hondecoeter's oeuvre, Ducks contributes to the enduring appreciation of Dutch animal painting from the Golden Age, valued for its blend of realism and compositional elegance.
Own this work as a print
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,…
