A Stag Hunt
- Artist: Philips Wouwerman
- Date: about 1665
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the "A Stag Hunt" by Philips Wouwerman. Painted in the Dutch north around 1665, it's a beautiful example of the artist's style, which we see in the flowing movement of the horses.
Here, the hunters are galloping up to join the excitement, their hat feathers flying and horns whooping. The horses are beautifully painted, skilfully suggesting the speed and noise of the hunt. One of Wouwerman's characteristic white horses leads the chase, ridden by a red-coated man; another carries a woman hunter in an elegant gown.
On the right side of the painting, we see a hermit outside his rickety cottage on the hill. He was perhaps intended as a moral contrast to the leisurely pursuits of the aristocratic hunters. Hunting on horseback wasn't just for food; it was a privilege reserved for the aristocracy. You can see that in this scene, the aristocrats are enjoying themselves while the hermit goes about his simple life.
The painting is oil on canvas, and it's clear to see why Wouwerman was known for his beautiful depictions of horses and movement.
See it in person
A Stag Hunt hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
