Still Life with Birds 1662

"Still Life with Birds" (1662) by William Gowe Ferguson is a small oil painting on canvas. It features several dead birds laid out on a wooden surface, suggesting a hunting scene. The artist's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the realistic rendering of the birds' feathers and textures. Ferguson was a Scottish painter known for his still lifes and portraits. This work showcases his skill in capturing the stillness and fragility of his subject matter. The subdued palette of brown and gray tones adds to the sense of melancholy and transience, typical of the vanitas genre.