Christoffel Pierson

Dutch, 1631 - 1714

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A cage, net, hunting horn, powder bag, pouch, two whistles, a bow and arrow, and a small, round hood for a bird are arranged in and around an arched niche set into a cream-white wall in this vertical still life painting. The objects are lit from our upper left so soft, slate-gray and powder-blue shadows are cast across the walls. The niche is framed with a wood border. Centered in the niche, the wooden cage has an arched top and closely spaced bars. The hood sitting atop the cage is a scarlet-red cap that would fit onto the head of a falcon. It is topped with a red pompom on a short stick, like an antenna. A sheathed knife with a bone-white handle and a long, curving, hunting horn lean against the front of the cage. The horn lightens from black where one would blow into the horn to a shimmering sage green at the wide end, which rests against the cage. A bow and arrow lie across the floor of the niche, under the cage, and a tangle of netting is tied to the horn, near the foot of the cage to our left. A pine-green whistle is affixed to or looped through the top of the cage, under the falcon’s hood, and hangs down past the ledge. A powder horn and bag hang on a canary-yellow cord looped over a nail driven into the wall over the alcove, to our left, and a pouch with a tassel hangs from a nail to our right.
Christoffel Pierson, Niche with Falconry Gear, probably 1660s, oil on canvas, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2003.39.1

Niche with Falconry Gear

Christoffel Pierson · probably 1660s · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  2003.39.1

Reinier van Persyn, Admiral Jan Cornelius Meppel of Holland, 1668, engraving, Rosenwald Collection, 1950.14.904

Admiral Jan Cornelius Meppel of Holland

Reinier van Persyn · 1668 · engraving ·  Accession ID  1950.14.904

Bibliography

1753

  • Houbraken, Arnold. De Groote Schouburgh der Nederlantsche Konstschilders en Schilderessen. 3 vols. in 1. The Hague, 1753 (Reprint: Amsterdam, 1976): 2:260-262.

1877

  • Obreen, Frederik D.O., ed. Archief voor Nederlandsche Kunstgeschiedenis. 7 vols. Rotterdam, 1877-1890: 6(1884):71-74.

1986

  • Bokhoven, Josine. Leven en Werk van Christoffel Pierson (1631-1714): "Den Kloeken Rijmer en Konstrijken Schilder." Schiedam, 1986.