Flemish school, 17th century.

Flemish school, 17th century.
"Poultry and fox in a landscape".
Oil on canvas.
Frame and frame of the 19th century.
Measurements: 100 X 125 cm; 120 x 147 cm (frame).
During the Golden century of the Flemish and Dutch painting there was a genuine development of the hunting scenes, the still lifes and the animalistic compositions like the one we are dealing with. In this case, the landscape receives as much attention as the birds, which are depicted on different levels of depth. Architectural details, poultry of various species and a fox tied to a hut are integrated into an idyllic atmosphere achieved by the rich shades of green and sienna, combined with a slightly iridescent sky. In fact, the restrained aggressiveness of the foreshortening, the plucked hillocks and the half-open jaws of the tethered animal contrast with the bucolic atmosphere of the scene. As for the drawing, it shows a skilful hand that models vivid anatomies, using light shifts that bring out splendid whites in the plumage. In the rich qualities of the fur, as well as in the idyllic landscape, we can appreciate a genuinely Flemish style of painting. During the 17th century in Flanders there was a growing demand for paintings to decorate the houses of the bourgeoisie. Broadly speaking, within animalistic painting two trends can be distinguished, the static, represented by Clara Peeters and Osias Beert, and the dynamic, with Frans Snyders and Paul de Vos. This work belongs to the second of these schools. Dynamic still lifes are characterised by compositions full of pronounced diagonals, as we see here, and by the frequent presence of live animals interacting with the objects in the still life, captured in full pathos.