Arkivism
Four Studies of Cockatoos
Public domain

Four Studies of Cockatoos

Jan Weenix · c. 1650 - c. 1719 · brush; charcoal stick; paper; watercolor (paint); chalk

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

However difficult it would have been to capture birds in flight, Jan Weenix will have made studies of them in the wild. Exotic specimens, such as these different species of cockatoos, however, would probably been drawn in menageries and aviaries. In this drawing the artist used a stick of charcoal soaked in oil. This provides a more intensely black tone than ordinary black chalk, making it ideal for introducing dark accents in feathers.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineFour Studies of Cockatoos. c. 1650 - c. 1719. Jan Weenix. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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