Forest Floor Still Life with Birds, Butterflies and a Lizard — Melchior d' Hondecoeter

Melchior d' Hondecoeter. Painted c. 1668.

D’Hondecoeter specialized in painting birds, which he portrayed as lifelike as possible, such as the chaffinch at the upper right in this still life. On this forest floor, in addition to birds, he painted butterflies and a common wall lizard. However, there is more to it than that. He used real butterfly wings for the butterflies and worked the wet paint with a sponge or cloth to suggest the moss, thereby creating an optimally realistic effect.

From the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

canvas, oil paint (paint) · Original size: 52.5 × 66 cm

Print: 52.5 × 66 cm, printed on Hahnemühle FineArt archival cotton paper. Museum-grade reproduction quality, true to the colours and detail of the original work.

Frame (optional): a custom-made wooden frame in a matte black finish, cut to the exact dimensions of this print, with an off-white passe-partout mat and protective glazing. Ready to hang.

Source: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20028083. Image released under CC0 by the Rijksmuseum.