Peacocks and Ducks 1680

Melchior d'Hondecoeter’s “Peacocks and Ducks” was painted in the Dutch Golden Age using oil on canvas. The artist's mastery of this medium is evident in the textures he achieves, from the soft down of the ducklings to the iridescent sheen of the peacock's feathers. Consider how d’Hondecoeter would have built up the image, layering thin glazes of paint to create depth and luminosity. The brushwork is precise, capturing every detail of the birds’ plumage, with a scientific interest in the natural world. It’s a far cry from our digital age of mass production. The artist was an avid breeder of waterfowl, and produced paintings for wealthy merchants to display in their country houses, demonstrating their wealth. D'Hondecoeter elevates the genre of animal painting, connecting the status of fine art with an appreciation for the natural world, and the accumulation of capital.