A Dead Bird (Quail?) Seen from Below 1685 - 1755

Count Giorgio Duranti made this drawing of a dead bird, likely a quail, with pen and brown ink, watercolor, and traces of graphite on paper, sometime in the first half of the 18th century. Duranti was known for his contributions to ornithology, the branch of zoology specifically concerning the study of birds. In the 1700s, images of animals, plants, and other natural wonders were not just scientific records, they were windows into a world being reshaped by European exploration and colonialism. The depiction of this bird, suspended and vulnerable, might evoke questions about our relationship with nature and the consequences of human actions on the environment. Think about the emotional impact of viewing this bird. Does its lifelessness prompt feelings of empathy, or perhaps a sense of detachment? How does the artist's careful rendering of its form and plumage affect your perception of the bird's individual existence?