Two Peacocks Threatening a Hen with Chicks, Known as ‘The Threatened Hen’

Melchior d' Hondecoeter, 1681

Hondecoeter enlivened his bird paintings with little vignettes. Here the focus is on the hen protecting her chicks from the large and intimidating peacocks.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-174
  • Dimensionsheight 115.5 cm x width 141 cm x weight 21.8 kg, depth 4 cm
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Discover more

"fowl (cock, hen, chicken, etc.)" by Melchior d' Hondecoeter

Seven Chicks

Melchior d' Hondecoeter, c. 1665 - c. 1668

Seven Chicks

Birds in a Park

Melchior d' Hondecoeter (mentioned on object), 1686

Birds in a Park

A Hen with Peacocks and a Turkey

Melchior d' Hondecoeter, c. 1680

A Hen with Peacocks and a Turkey

more by Melchior d' Hondecoeter

A Pelican and other Birds near a Pool, Known as ‘The Floating Feather’

Melchior d' Hondecoeter, c. 1680

A Pelican and other Birds near a Pool, Known as ‘The Floating Feather’

The Menagerie

Melchior d' Hondecoeter, c. 1690

The Menagerie

Forest Floor Still Life with Birds, Butterflies and a Lizard

Melchior d' Hondecoeter, c. 1668

Forest Floor Still Life with Birds, Butterflies and a Lizard

Birds on a Balustrade

Melchior d' Hondecoeter, c. 1680 - c. 1690

Birds on a Balustrade

Seven Chicks

Melchior d' Hondecoeter, c. 1665 - c. 1668

Seven Chicks

Birds in a Park

Melchior d' Hondecoeter (mentioned on object), 1686

Birds in a Park

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • Two Peacocks Threatening a Hen with Chicks, Known as ‘The Threatened Hen’
    • Two Peacocks Threatening a Hen with Chicks, known as 'The Threatened Hen'

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-174

  • Description

    Een hen met kuikens bedreigd door twee pauwen, bekend als 'De bedreigde hen'. In de lucht een duif, in de verte een kasuaris en een Afrikaanse kroonkraanvogel.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    signature and date: ‘M. d Hondecoeter Aº 1681’

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Melchior d' Hondecoeter

  • Dating

    1681

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    • height 115.5 cm x width 141 cm x weight 21.8 kg
    • depth 4 cm

This work is about

  • Subject

Exhibitions

Acquisition and rights

Documentation

    • Th.L.J. Verroen, 'Een verstandig rijk man. De achttiende-eeuwse verzamelaar Adriaan Leonard van Heteren', Leids Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek (1985), p. 41, cat. 68.
    • E. Korthals-Altes, Simiolus (2000-2001) nr. 4, p. 254, noot 7

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