Attributed to Jan Van Kessel

Attributed to JAN VAN KESSEL (Antwerp, 1626- 1679).
"Concert of birds".
Gouache on vellum.
Measurements: 18,5 x 23 cm; 54 x 59 cm (frame).
This work represents a very diffused subject in the Flemish painting of the XVII century: the "concert of birds", in which different species are grouped around a musical score as if they participated in a choral scene. It is a common motif, with outstanding examples such as the one preserved in the Museo del Prado (catalog no. P001758) by Frans Snyders, who contributed decisively to its popularization. The theme, however, predates the Baroque fashion for courtly aviaries: it has its roots in the Middle Ages and has precedents in the representations of Aeolus surrounded by birds that proliferated at the end of the 16th century.
Thematically, the scene combines the naturalistic with the allegorical. The birds, carefully depicted and arranged on trunks and branches, seem to participate in a universal harmony guided by music. This image can be interpreted as a metaphor for natural order and concord, but it is also linked to the Franciscan symbolic tradition, in which birds represent the praise of divine creation and the spiritual connection between nature and the sacred.
The quality of the work can be appreciated in the meticulousness with which the different species are represented: each plumage, color and attitude is treated with almost scientific precision, characteristic of the Flemish school. The brushstroke is fine and detailed, especially in the textures of the feathers, while the coloring is lively and varied, creating a decorative and attractive effect. The composition, although apparently spontaneous, is carefully balanced, organizing the figures around the central axis of the score.
The painting fully responds to the distinctive features of Flemish art, close to Van Kessel's painting: taste for detail, interest in nature, chromatic richness and a clear decorative vocation. These works were highly appreciated by collectors in Northern Europe and were frequently used to decorate specific spaces such as doors, shutters or fireplaces, before being exported to other countries, including Spain.
In this painting, all these elements are harmoniously integrated: the scene not only delights for its technical virtuosity, but also conveys a symbolic and cultural message that connects medieval tradition, baroque sensibility and naturalistic observation. The result is a work that combines science, art and allegory in a refined and suggestive image.