Artwork Page for Hare, Spoonbill, and Fish

Details / Information for Hare, Spoonbill, and Fish

Hare, Spoonbill, and Fish

mid-1600s

Italy, possibly Genoa, 17th century

Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
Framed: 128.5 x 159 x 8 cm (50 9/16 x 62 5/8 x 3 1/8 in.); Unframed: 99.5 x 128.5 cm (39 3/16 x 50 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Holden Collection 1916.1001
Public Domain
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Location
212 Baroque Painting and Sculpture
Print

Description

This striking painting of fish and game has yet to be attributed to a specific artist. Art historians have considered Dutch, Spanish, or Italian artists as possibilities, including the Dutch still-life and animal specialist Frans Snyders and the Spanish artist Alejandro de Loarte. But both have been rejected on stylistic grounds. An Italian artist is more plausible; the vaguely rendered, reddish background and the fluid handling of paint, especially in the portrayal of the fish, are characteristic of an Italian hand. The composition, which emphasizes the space between the creatures with strong highlights and deep shadows, also points to an Italian artist, possibly from a Northern Italian city such as Genoa.
A horizontally oriented oil painting depicts a dark still life of game. At the left, two silvery fish and a brown hare hang from cords. Centered, a large white spoonbill is suspended upside down from a metal hook, light catching its pale feathers and long beak. Below, a silvery fish rests in a shallow bowl. To the right, a small bird hangs above a dark-feathered bird on the ground against the shadowy background.

Hare, Spoonbill, and Fish

mid-1600s

Italy, possibly Genoa, 17th century

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