The Fight Between a Cock and a Turkey

painting by Hondecoeter

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June 26, 2026

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The painting "The Fight Between a Cock and a Turkey" is by Melchior de Hondecoeter, a Dutch Baroque painter renowned for his studies of birds. Hondecoeter, born in 1636, was a student of Jan Baptist Weenix and specialized in depicting birds in various states, including in combat. His works are known for their spirited and accurate portrayal of birds' motion. "Turkey-cock" can refer to a male turkey or, metaphorically, a pompous person. Hondecoeter's artistic period falls within the Dutch Golden Age, a time of significant cultural achievement in the Netherlands.123

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Melchior de Hondecoeter
…and in flight, such as The Fight Between a Cock and a Turkey. Few of his pictures are dated, though some are signed. Among those with dates are Jackdaw Deprived of His Borrowed Plumage (1671), Game and Poultry (1672), and A Park with Poultry (1686). Hondecoeter’s earliest works are more…
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…and in flight, such as The Fight Between a Cock and a Turkey. Few of his pictures are dated, though some are signed. Among those with dates are Jackdaw Deprived of His Borrowed Plumage (1671), Game and Poultry (1672), and A Park with Poultry (1686). Hondecoeter’s earliest works are more…
Read More