Melchior d'Hondecoeter
An Eagle, a Swallow, a Snipe and a Finch in Flight
D’Hondecoeter did not often paint predatory birds. Here we see the terrifying raptor chasing a barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), ready to clutch the small bird with his sharp paws. The eagle’s sudden appearance takes the snipe and finch by surprise and they attempt to flee. Interestingly our eagle does not exist in the real world: D’Hondecoeter here combines elements from various species to create this ‘hybrid’ bird. Before acquiring this work we knew this painting very well and had admired it a lot.
