Artwork
Cock, hen and chickens surprised by a fox
Cock, hen and chickens surprised by a fox is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Baptiste Oudry. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This oil painting depicts a dramatic moment of predation, featuring a fox attacking a group of chickens.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting depicts a dramatic moment of predation, featuring a fox attacking a group of chickens. Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Oudry, its quality suggests potential authorship by his lesser-known son, Jacques-Charles.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a tense scene of a red fox lunging at a rooster, hen, and three chicks, conveying the instinctual panic of the birds through exaggerated postures and ruffled feathers.
Technique & Style
Characterized by meticulous, tiny brushstrokes, the work reflects Oudry's (or possibly his son's) attention to detail, imbuing the scene with a sense of dynamic energy and lifelike movement.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Oudry, though its lesser finish quality raises the possibility of authorship by his son Jacques-Charles, trained in the family workshop. Original commission and ownership history are not detailed here.
Context
The piece exemplifies the popularity of animal and hunting themes in 18th-century French art, aligning with Oudry's known specializations in still lifes and hunting scenes, which were in vogue during this period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Baptiste Oudry was a French Rococo painter, engraver, and tapestry designer. He is particularly well known for his naturalistic pictures of animals and his hunt pieces depicting game. His son, Jacques-Charles Oudry, was also a painter.
