Dead Partridge Hanging from a Nail

A dead partridge is hanging from a nail by a string tied round its feet. It hangs against a white plastered wall in bright sunlight. The work has been painted to look almost like the real thing, in spite of the sparing use of colours.

This type of deceptive painting, or trompe-l’oeil, was very popular in the mid-seventeenth century. This example is by Weenix, who is known mainly for his impressive Italian landscapes.