Who painted Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs?

Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs was painted by Virgil Solis in 1504.

Where can I see Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs?

Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs?

Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs

Virgil Solis , 1504

Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs is a print by the Renaissance artist Virgil Solis. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1922.131
Credit line: Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland

About this work

Overview

Virgil Solis’s print Rabbits Roasting a Hunter and His Dogs, executed around 1504, presents a bustling tableau in which rabbits have turned the tables on their pursuer. The composition centers on a massive rabbit leg pinning a hunter and his hounds, while a crowd of anthropomorphic rabbits prepares a grotesque feast, turning a hunting scene into a chaotic banquet.

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts a reversal of the traditional predator‑prey relationship, casting the rabbits as clever agents of revenge. By dressing the rabbits in hats, giving them musical instruments and a tiny cauldron, Solis imbues them with human traits, suggesting a satirical commentary on folly and the triumph of the underestimated over the powerful.

Technique & Style

Solis employs crisp, incised lines and deep chiaroscuro shading to convey the density of the scene. The tight hatching creates a sense of movement and drama, while the crowded background of tools and debris enhances the feeling of a disorderly workshop turned into a macabre banquet hall, characteristic of Northern Renaissance printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created in the early sixteenth century, the print is attributed to the German artist Virgil Solis, known for his prolific output of woodcuts and engravings. The piece entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains catalogued as part of the museum’s holdings of Renaissance prints.

Dagger Sheath with Gentleman Holding a Parrot, Heinrich Aldegrever

Artist & collection

Artist

Virgil Solis

Virgil Solis or Virgilius Solis (1514 – 1 August 1562), a member of a prolific family of artists, was a German draughtsman and printmaker in engraving, etching and woodcut who worked in his native city of Nuremberg.