Melchior De Hondecoetter, a Dutch animalier painter, was born in Utrecht in 1636 and died in Amsterdam in 1695. He is renowned for his exquisite paintings of birds, often exotic, which he executed with great spirit and accuracy. De Hondecoetter's works are characterized by bold touches and sure eyes, capturing the motion of birds with remarkable precision.
Early Career and Style
De Hondecoetter's earliest works are more conscientious, lighter, and more transparent than his later ones. He is better known for his homelier works, which adorned the royal castles of Bensberg and Oranienstein at different periods of his life. His masterpieces can be found in
The Hague, Soestdijk, and Amsterdam, including
The Floating Feather. Fine examples of his work are also housed in the
Wallace Collection and
Belton House in England, as well as public galleries in Berlin, Budapest, Caen, Cologne, Copenhagen, Detroit, Dresden, Dublin, Florence, Glasgow, Hanover, Karlsruhe, Kassel, London, Lyons, Lille, Montpellier, Munich, Paris, Poltava, Riga, Rotterdam, Rouen, Stuttgart, Schwerin, Vaduz, Warsaw, and Vienna.
Influences and Pupils
De Hondecoetter's registered pupils included
Willem Hendrik Wilhelmus van Royen and
Jan Weenix. He was followed by or influenced
D. Birrius,
Peter Casteels (III),
Adriaen van Oolen,
Felice Boselli,
Angelo Maria Crivelli,
Tobias Stranover,
Charles Collins (c. 1680-1744),
Marmaduke Cradock,
Adriaen Coorte,
Jan van Huysum, and
Elias Vonck. For more information on these artists, visit
Joods Historisch Museum, Netherlands or check out the collection at
Pembroke College Oxford Jcr Art Collection.
Notable Works and Exhibitions
Some of De Hondecoetter's notable works include:
De Hondecoetter's works are a testament to his skill and artistry, and his legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike. To learn more about
Melchior De Hondecoetter and his contemporaries, visit
The Museum Fridart Stiftung (Amsterdam, Netherlands).