Still Life with Dead Birds, Christoffel van den Berghe (1624)
In this hunting trophy painting, Christoffel van den Berghe saw the dead birds as opportunities to inventively orchestrate a variety of textures, patterns, and shapes. He not only showcased the birds' colorful feathers, but he complemented them with his entire still-life repertoire: fruit, flowers, and serving pieces.
The genre of "game pieces" generally dates from the 1640s; this is one of the earliest in the history of Dutch art. Few Dutch artists painted such works, perhaps because the market was small. Hunting and shooting were not practiced on a large scale in the northern Netherlands, and these paintings were not commissioned.
                                
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections:
 Jacob Maris - Fishing boat
Jacob Maris - Fishing boat Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh
Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael
The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael The School of Athens, Raphael
The School of Athens, Raphael Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd
Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland
Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)
Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen) Agapanthus, Claude Monet
Agapanthus, Claude Monet Vincent van Gogh. Sunflowers
Vincent van Gogh. Sunflowers The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting
The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633
Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633 The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai
The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem
Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen
A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet
The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet The Mirror, Robert Reid
The Mirror, Robert Reid Spring Flowers, Claude Monet
Spring Flowers, Claude Monet Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon
Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard
Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard Cypresses
Cypresses