Jacopo de' Barbari, 'A Sparrowhawk', 1510s
| Full title | A Sparrowhawk |
|---|---|
| Artist | Jacopo de' Barbari |
| Artist dates | active 1500; died 1516? |
| Date made | 1510s |
| Medium and support | oil on wood |
| Dimensions | 17.8 × 10.8 cm |
| Acquisition credit | Layard Bequest, 1916 |
| Inventory number | NG3088 |
| Location | Not on display |
| Collection | Main Collection |
| Previous owners |
This picture of a female sparrowhawk is one of two known paintings of birds by the Venetian artist Jacopo de' Barbari, who worked in the noble courts of Germany and the Netherlands. It is a probably a fragment of a larger painting made quite late in Jacopo’s life, perhaps when he was working in the Netherlands.
The bird is painted alive, bathed in bright natural light – the lean creature and its perch cast a strong shadow on the wall. A small bell just above its left foot would alert its handler to its whereabouts as it was flying. It is tied by a slender piece of rope, but its bright eye shows how keenly alert it is to the world.
Download a low-resolution copy of this image for personal use.
License and download a high-resolution image for reproductions up to A3 size from the National Gallery Picture Library.
License imageThis image is licensed for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons agreement.
Examples of non-commercial use are:
- Research, private study, or for internal circulation within an educational organisation (such as a school, college or university)
- Non-profit publications, personal websites, blogs, and social media
The image file is 800 pixels on the longest side.
As a charity, we depend upon the generosity of individuals to ensure the collection continues to engage and inspire. Help keep us free by making a donation today.
You must agree to the Creative Commons terms and conditions to download this image.
