Lot 1126 Dα

Alongside still lifes, Beck painted a significant number of animal motifs. He mainly focussed on the depiction of poultry, and the present work shows one of Beck's familiar leitmotifs - families of animals or hens with their chicks. He painted a wide variety of poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese, and doves. In contrast to the animal paintings of Melchior de Hondecoeter or Jean-Baptiste Oudry, Beck's works are characterised by their atmosphere of calm. In the present canvas, the subject is depicted with fine brushstrokes which give the surface structure of the feathers a light and lively appearance.