Artwork
Poultry-yard with angered cock
Poultry-yard with angered cock is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Melchior d' Hondecoeter. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the South African National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Poultry-yard with angered cock is a 1658 oil painting by Dutch animalier Melchior d’Hondecoeter, depicting a barnyard scene with domestic poultry as its central subject.
Subject & Meaning
The painting prominently features a brown, black, and white rooster, with ruffled feathers and open beak, standing over a white hen with a red comb. This dynamic composition captures a moment of tension within a carefully observed domestic setting.
Technique & Style
D’Hondecoeter employed chiaroscuro to create strong light and dark contrasts, enhancing the scene’s drama. The oil paint application emphasizes texture, particularly noticeable in the rooster’s feathers.
History & Provenance
Created during the Dutch Golden Age, the painting is now part of the Iziko South African National Gallery’s collection.
Context
Characteristic of d’Hondecoeter’s work, the piece reflects his specialization in depicting birds in naturalistic, park-like or domestic environments, though here focusing on common poultry rather than game or exotic species.
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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,…
