Still Life with Dead Hare and Fruit Alexandre Francois Desportes (1661-1743)

The composition presents a meticulously arranged still life set against a backdrop of autumnal landscape. A dead hare dominates the foreground, its body positioned centrally and draped over a wicker basket overflowing with fruit. Several game birds – pheasants and partridges – are scattered around the hare, some nestled within the foliage, others lying on the ground. A hunting dog, rendered in warm earth tones, sits attentively to the right of the arrangement, its gaze directed towards the viewer.
The artist has employed a rich palette, emphasizing the textures and colors of both organic and manufactured elements. The fruit – melons, peaches, grapes – exhibits a vibrant luminosity, contrasting with the muted browns and greys of the hare’s fur and the dogs coat. Light falls unevenly across the scene, creating areas of deep shadow that heighten the sense of volume and three-dimensionality.
Beyond the immediate arrangement, a distant landscape unfolds. A hazy sky is punctuated by rolling hills and what appears to be a small village in the distance. The foliage surrounding the still life suggests a wooded area, with branches extending from the upper left corner of the canvas.
The subtexts within this painting are layered and complex. The presence of the dead hare and game birds immediately evokes themes of mortality and the transience of life. Hunting, as an activity, is inherently linked to both sustenance and sport, suggesting a commentary on human interaction with nature and the cycle of life and death. The dog’s attentive posture implies loyalty and companionship, but also serves as a reminder of humanitys dominion over the animal kingdom.
The abundance of fruit in the basket could be interpreted as symbolic of prosperity and plenty, yet this is tempered by the stark reality of the dead animals nearby. This juxtaposition creates a sense of melancholy and invites contemplation on the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures. The inclusion of the landscape – distant, serene, and seemingly untouched by the scene unfolding in the foreground – further emphasizes the contrast between human activity and the natural world. Overall, the painting conveys a profound meditation on life, death, and the relationship between humanity and its environment.