A Concert of Birds. A sub-genre of animal painting that Frans Snyders is given credit for inventing, and to which he frequently returned, is what was dubbed a "concert of birds." Compositions working this theme display groups of different species of birds perched together on tree trunks or on the ground or water below. They are generally shown vocalizing, as if the combined sound of bird call was a sort of "concert" of the birds; sometimes a musical score is even included in the composition. (The latter usually lorded over by an owl, a role due, most likely, to that old cliché of the owl being the "wisest" of birds.) The theme seems to have been inspired by representations of Aeolus* - the mythological Keeper of the Winds - and/or the stories of Saint Francis of Assisi. The paintings can also be viewed, simply, as allegories on the sense of hearing. Various followers of Snyders also created work in this theme, including his pupil and brother-in-law, Paul de Vos.
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Frans Snyders.
(Since most of these are entitled merely "A Concert of Birds", sometimes followed by a rundown of the various species of the participants, I'm skipping the
excruciating degree of research that would be necessary to label and date each one; the originals were painted somewhere between circa the 1620s and 1678.) |
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| Frans Snyders. |
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| Frans Snyders. |
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| Frans Snyders. |
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| Paul de Vos. |
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| Frans Snyders. |
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| Attributed to Paul de Vos. Obviously a version of the Snyders painting above. |
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| Frans Snyders. |
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| Studio of Paul de Vos. |
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| Paul de Vos. |
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| Paul de Vos. |
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| Frans Snyders. (This doesn't look to be an actual "concert" painting, but... whatever....) |
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| Studio of Frans Snyders. |
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| Paul de Vos. |
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| Frans Snyders. |
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Frans Snyders or Frans Snijders (11 November 1579, Antwerp – 19 August 1657, Antwerp), Flemish artist specializing in paintings of animals, hunting scenes, market scenes, and still lifes. He was one of the earliest specialist
animaliers and he is credited with initiating a wide variety of new still-life and animal subjects in Antwerp. He was a regular collaborator with leading Antwerp painters such as Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, and Jacob Jordaens. Brother-in-law and teacher of Paul de Vos.
Paul de Vos (1591/92 or 1595, Hulst – 30 June 1678, Antwerp), Flemish Baroque painter who specialized mainly in compositions of animals, hunting scenes, and still lifes. He worked for an elite clientele and was frequently collaborated with celebrated Flemish painters like Anthony van Dyck and Peter Paul Rubens. He initially trained and assisted in the workshop of his brother-in-law Frans Snyders.
* Speaking of Aeolus,
here he is in an earlier post, portrayed in a bird-heavy painting by Rubens. Since both Snyders and de Vos frequently worked with Rubens, perhaps one of them provided the feathery creatures here?
Dear Stephen,
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating is all of this.
The Flemish painters are not particularly well known to us but we have become more familiar since our move to Norwich in Norfolk. Norwich was heavily influenced by the Dutch who arrived fleeing the Reformation and even named its football team 'Canaries' after the canary birds which the Dutch brought with them.
These depictions of animals are brilliantly done. The colours, textures and composition are very fine. However, I have noted that he was a friend of Rubens and it is written that Snyders was employed to paint the animals in some Rubens' compositions. One critic ventures that although Snyders was master of painting dead animals, Rubens was better at the live ones. :):)
there is a 'Parrot Room' at Holkham Hall in Norfolk which is named after a Snyders painting of parrots and macaws. Perhaps you know of it?
Dear J-and-L, I'll have to Google that parrot room at Holkham; can't recall if I've seen it.
DeleteI always find it so interesting that "back in the day" multiple artists would frequently contribute to the very same canvas, each working in their specialty. And not just studio assistants painting a background or a bit of drapery, but full colleagues dividing up the elements as their skills were demanded. I find that rather alarming. But I suppose if the artists were very compatible, stylistically....