Melchior d' Hondecoeter

After first learning to paint from his father, d’Hondecoeter went to study with his uncle Jan Baptist Weenix, a well-known Italianist artist. Weenix helped his young pupil to develop his technique and use of colour, and d’Hondecoeter applied his new skills to create an eclectic range of paintings featuring chickens, cockerels, peacocks, ducks, geese, pigeons and tropical birds – he was one of the first artists to make bird paintings. As a viewer you can almost hear the twittering and fluttering in these vivid and dynamic works. Besides paintings, D'Hondecoeter produced wall decorations for wealthy clients. He painted views of buildings and parks on these wallpapers, and always included some of his favourite subjects: birds.