Jean Baptise Oudry- Fox in the Poultry Yard

[dinosaw]

Was in the Wallace Collection today and saw this painting hanging. Despite the subject matter I quite like it as most depictions of chickens are very static and sterile. It actually shows the selflessness and bravery of the cocks and the fierce protective instinct of mother hens pretty well I think. Mrs Dinosaw once got charged down by a mother for having the temerity to pick up one of her chicks.

Here it is on the off chance anyone else likes it too

https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/fox-in-the-poultry-yard-209672

 

[Marigold]

Very lively picture, dinosaw. When you think how hard it would have been to observe and record a scene like this in the days before instant photography, it's even more remarkable. A lot different from painting a still life, or a portrait of a person sitting for their picture. You can almost hear the noise in this one.

 

[ColinB]

I wonder what the fox is looking at? A shotgun?

 

[dinosaw]

Well the painter did have a line in painting dead game, often with a gun propped up in the picture, so could well be that the fox was about to get it's comeuppance.