The Floating Feather

Melchior d'Hondecoeter was renowned for his lively and accurate paintings of birds, often combining familiar farmyard species with rare and exotic ones. This impressive composition—commonly known as The Floating Feather, though formally titled A Pelican and Other Birds Near a Pool—was painted around 1680, likely for a residence of the Dutch king, William III of Orange (possibly Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn).

At the center of the scene stands a majestic pelican, surrounded by an extraordinary gathering of birds. A cassowary appears to the left, while a flamingo and a black crowned crane stand nearby. Ducks and waterfowl cluster around the pool, their reflections rippling across the water. The painting’s popular title comes from a small but striking detail: a single feather drifting across the surface of the pond.

Hondecoeter kept poultry at home but also visited wealthy patrons' estates to observe exotic species. His paintings, which often place birds within elegant park settings, were particularly admired by Dutch regents and by William III himself, whose palaces displayed several of the artist’s works.

P.S. From ancient history to the present day, birds have appeared in paintings, metalwork, ceramics, and even entire rooms! Let's take a look at birds in art! 

P.P.S. If you're animal lover, be sure to check out our Animals in Art 50 Postcards Set!  :)