Still Life with dead Birds

This painting, signed and dated during Lelienbergh’s time in The Hague, shows decorative hens, a kingfisher and songbirds in front of a pillar and on a stone plinth. The wings of the suspended partridge are spread out – blood is dripping down, and a few feathers hover in the air. Contributing to the illusion is the almost tangible quality of the finely elaborated plumage. The colours vary between shades of white, ochre, brown and blue. The lighting enhances the sculptural effect of the bodies.
Lelienbergh’s hunting pieces follow the style of Dutch painter Jan Weenix (c 1641–1719) and Flemish artist Jan Fijt (1611–1661), who was a pupil of Frans Snyders (1579–1657), a specialist in animal painting. This has in the past often led to confusion concerning unsigned paintings.

Habersatter Thomas: Cornelis Lelienbergh, Still Life with dead Birds, in: Ducke Astrid, Habersatter Thomas (Hrsg./Edi.): von | from 0 auf | to 100. Residenzgalerie Salzburg 1923-2023. Salzburg 2023, S./p. 160-161