He was the son and pupil of Gysbrecht de Hondecoeter. He also apparently studied with his uncle Jan Baptist Weenix. By 1659 he was active in The Hague; by 1663 he settled in Amsterdam, where he later died. He specialised in the painting of birds.
Melchior d'Hondecoeter
1636 - 1695
Paintings by Melchior d'Hondecoeter
Melchior d‘Hondecoeter specialised in large decorative paintings of birds, often mixing domestic and ornamental fowl with wild ones, as he does in this picture. A wild pigeon perches on a wooden yoke that leans against an overturned wicker basket, while a finch wings its way towards it.The exotic...
Not on display
A frog, crouched in the foreground and glittering like a jewel, appears to be causing a stir. The male birds looking down at it seem angry or excited by its presence: they prowl, flutter their wings or glare, feathers ruffled. On a top branch is a chaffinch, fluffing out its plumage; its mate sit...
Not on display