Lot Essay
The present picture is to be dated towards the end of the 1620's as a comparison of the Hermitage picture of 1627 suggests. Similar are the opening of the landscape on the right towards the horizon, the subdued colour scheme and the naturalistic appearance of the animals.
As pointed out by J.Briels, Vlaamse schilders in de Noordelijke Nederlanden in het begin van de Gouden Eeuw 1585-1630, 1987, p.200, Hondecoeter's paintings of the 1620's show a greater naturalism in contrast to his earlier more exotic treatment of animals that he owed to his master Roelant Savery.
As pointed out by J.Briels, Vlaamse schilders in de Noordelijke Nederlanden in het begin van de Gouden Eeuw 1585-1630, 1987, p.200, Hondecoeter's paintings of the 1620's show a greater naturalism in contrast to his earlier more exotic treatment of animals that he owed to his master Roelant Savery.