European

Elias, attr. Vonck

Netherlands 1605-1652
Still Life 25.0255

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This painting combines elements drawn from the Flemish still life and "gamepiece" (a still life with hunted birds or animals) tradition exemplified by Frans Snyders, whose signature is in the lower left corner and to whom this painting was once attributed. This painting, however, does not seem to come from his hand. It contains none of the decorative elements usually found in his work, which also never included birds or game alone. The dramatic white swan with its long, curving neck shows a compositional restraint and sobriety of coloring more characteristic of artists of the northern Netherlands. It is now believed to be the work of Vonck who spent time in both Amsterdam and Poland and who frequently painted the mute swan (Cygnus olor) hunted in the 17th century. In this work, the swan is suspended by the leg from a nail, the body splayed out in defiance of gravity. Other birds include a pigeon, tow barnyard fowl, and possibly an immature peacock. Hanging from a circular rack are a smew, a kingfisher, and possibly a Eurasian teal. The few dated works by Vonck range from 1640-1652.

 

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