The comparatively chaste young woman in
More than Mimicry: The Parrot in Dutch Genre Painting
Beautiful, exotic, and rare, parrots are a mainstay of 17th-century Dutch genre paintings. Appearing prominently in domestic interiors, taverns, and markets, these rare birds are painterly evidence of the vast and profitable trade network established by the newly independent Dutch Republic. Among an impressive array of luxury goods imported to the Low Countries, parrots were highly coveted. A wealthy and erudite clientele was eager to indulge its cultural curiosity and purchase such conspicuous symbols of prosperity. Parrots, however, were more than ostentatious displays of wealth and sophistication. These very social and intelligent creatures were, in fact, highly valued companions. As such, they provided Dutch genre painters an unprecedented opportunity for creativity and candor, on which they skillfully capitalized. The resulting works reveal personalities at play and unique perspectives into the private lives of Dutch citizens in the Golden Age.
The parrot’s special status among the elite is evident in
Fig. 2 - Gerrit Dou, Woman with a Parrot (detail), c. 1660–1665, oil on panel, The Leiden Collection, New York, GD-105. © The Leiden Collection, New York
Fig. 3 - Frans van Mieris, The Duet (detail), 1658, oil on panel, Staatliches Museum Schwerin/ Ludwigslust/ Güstrow. bpk | Staatliches Museum Schwerin | Elke Walford
The graceful, elongated profile of the beautiful woman in this work seems to mesmerize all the figures in the room, as she stands with one hand on the keyboard in front of her. With the other, she gently turns the page of the musical score. Plucking the chords of the theorbo-lute, her male accompanist inclines his head toward her with the hint of an amorous smile playing on his lips. The sensuous harmony in this scene is palpable, and the exotic parrot contributes significantly to this endeavor.
Fig. 4 - Frans van Mieris, Woman Feeding a Parrot (detail), 1663, oil on panel, The Leiden Collection, New York, FM-112. © The Leiden Collection, New York
Van Mieris’s keen powers of observation and artistic sensibility reach its epitome in Woman Feeding a Parrot
Kristen H. Gonzalez
Nov 3, 2017