Oil on canvas, in a carved and gilded frame, 47cm by 63cm.
The painting, a pair to PIC490, was bought by John, 5th Earl of Exeter (1648-1700), in 1694 whilst in Italy on the Grand Tour.
It was a late addition to the Burghley Inventory of 1688: ‘The tea Roome….. 1 litle picture of Cocks Peacock etc. bla[c]k frame, by —.’
De Coninck, a Flemish artist, was an accomplished painter of animals and birds in landscape settings, often depicting scenes of great activity with fighting cats and dogs, packs of dogs attacking game and birds of prey attacking poultry.
Here he captures a more peaceful scene.
