Birds of a Feather. De Hondecoeter and the Birth of a New Genre

It can be said that Melchior de Hondecoeter represents a synthesis of the new scientific awareness of the natural world, coupled with an understanding of the advance of realism and the sophistication of technique which was evident at the close of the seventeenth century. De Hondecoeter's importance in the context of seventeenth-century Dutch painting is undeniable, and yet it has remained unacknowledged for too long. He was undoubtedly a member of the ranks of the Great Masters of the Golden Age as well as a major specialist in his field, so why, one might ask, has he been so neglected? Perhaps his subject matter is rather too specialised for the palate and expertise of the vast majority of art historians? Whatever the reason, this prolific artist has somehow remained undeservedly in the shadows while many of his contemporaries have become household names.