Birds at a balustrade with the City Hall in the background, Melchior d'Hondecoeter (1670)
Who was Melchior de Hondecoeter?
Melchior de Hondecoeter was a painter who lived in Amsterdam from 1663. He became best known for his paintings of animals. Birds were his favorite subject.
What do we see in this painting?
The painting shows: Two peacocks (symbol of vanity) An owl (symbol of wisdom, but tied up) In the background you can see the Town Hall on Dam Square.
What does this painting mean?
The painting probably has a hidden message. It seems to be a criticism of the mayors of Amsterdam: The peacocks represent their pride The tethered owl symbolizes that their wisdom is limited.
In other words, the mayors built the city hall full of pride and vanity, but this does not show much wise policy
