Hare, Spoonbill, and Fishmid-1600s · Study 1916.1001

Context from the museum

This striking painting of fish and game has yet to be attributed to a specific artist. Art historians have considered Dutch, Spanish, or Italian artists as possibilities, including the Dutch still-life and animal specialist Frans Snyders and the Spanish artist Alejandro de Loarte. But both have been rejected on stylistic grounds. An Italian artist is more plausible; the vaguely rendered, reddish background and the fluid handling of paint, especially in the portrayal of the fish, are characteristic of an Italian hand. The composition, which emphasizes the space between the creatures with strong highlights and deep shadows, also points to an Italian artist, possibly from a Northern Italian city such as Genoa.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Hare, Spoonbill, and Fish is 128.5 cm wide and 99.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 50.6 × 39.2 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.29:1. The rectangular bounding area is 1.28 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 42.8% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 85.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Hare, Spoonbill, and Fish in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this horizontal composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 128.5 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?