Lot 81: Abraham Bisschop (1660-1731), Birds in a Landscape

Abraham Bisschop (1660-1731), Birds in a Landscape
oil on canvas (lined), signed and dated at lower left "A. Bisschop 1695," housed in an ornate carved and gilt wood frame with gallery plaque.
Born in Dordrecht, Abraham Bisschop was the youngest son of Cornelis Bisschop (1630-1674). While his father was known for his figural works, Abraham gained fame as a painter of fowl in landscapes. Abraham Bisschop (also Busschop) was one of several Dutch artists during the late 17th and early 18th century who specialized in painting live native and exotic fowl. These artists were often commissioned by rich burghers who collected and displayed these beautiful birds on their extensive estates. These paintings were prized for their realistic rendering of color and texture. In addition to paintings on canvas, artists like Bisschop and d'Hondecoeter, another famed fowl artist, painted on panels incorporated into the ornate Rococo architecture of grand Dutch palaces and homes. (see RDK catalogue and DUTCH PAINTING 1600-1800 by Seymour Slive, pp 291-292).

SS 27.25 x 35 in.; DOA 36 x 42.5 in.
Mrs. Arthur W. Levy (early North Carolina Museum of Art board member) to Mrs. Thomas H. Briggs, both of Raleigh, North Carolina. French & Company, New York, NY.