Still Life with Huntsman

With the rest of his bounty already displayed on the table, a huntsman enters with a hare. Flemish artist Frans Snijders specialised in painting animals, dead or alive. Typical of Snijders is the playful cat that has set his sights on the hanging head of the dead turkey.

The still lifes in Prince William V’s collection are all on the exuberant side. Rather than modest breakfast pieces or memento mori, there are lavish floral and hunting still lifes, as well ornate still lifes (pronkstillevens). This type of painting was well suited to a royal collection such as that of the prince. This Snijders came into William V’s possession when he acquired the Van Slingelandt collection.