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Title

Deer Attacked in a Lake

Typology
Paintings
School
Antwerp
Century
First half of the XVIIth c.
Dimensions
164.5 x 240 cm
Technique
Oil
Support
Canvas
Observations

This Deer Attacked in a Lake by Frans Snyders illustrates a dramatic hunting scene, typical of the Flemish painter's style, who specialized in animal scenes and still lifes. This painting, now cataloged among the anonymous works of the Colección Santamarca in Madrid, presents an intense and poignant scene where a deer, caught in a stream, is attacked by a pack of dogs. The deer, filled with pain and terror, is bitten by three dogs that have sunk their teeth into its back, ear, and leg. Other dogs are swimming toward it, signaling an inevitable and bloody conclusion.

The action takes place in a natural landscape, between the trees of a dense forest and an open blue sky. The setting, though beautiful, contrasts with the dramatic tension playing out in the foreground. This contrast between the serene beauty of the landscape and the violence of the scene recalls the influence of Jan Wildens, a frequent collaborator of Snyders. The background is typical of their joint works, with a composition that uses diagonals to focus the action into a confined space.

This work by Snyders, dated to the 1630s-1640s, is part of several versions of the same theme the artist created throughout his career. Another signed version of this composition is held in the collection of Lord Spencer at Althorp House, Northampton. While the scene is more concentrated in this version and the space is reduced, the essence of the hunt, with its dogs and deer, remains virtually identical to the painting in Madrid. Other high-quality scenes featuring the same theme of deer hunting are found in private collections and museums, including the Museo del Prado (inv. 1772) and the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen (inv. 5218).

Related links
IPCE
Bibliography
Locations