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The image shows a bird hanging upside down by a piece of twine tied to its foot and a nail. The bird has plumage with soft pink, white, grey, and black colors. The background is dark brown, and a fly is visible to the left of the bird. The bird is in the center of the image, with its wings and tail feathers extending outward, while the nail and twine are at the top.
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The image shows a bird hanging upside down by a piece of twine tied to its foot and a nail. The bird has plumage with soft pink, white, grey, and black colors. The background is dark brown, and a fly is visible to the left of the bird. The bird is in the center of the image, with its wings and tail feathers extending outward, while the nail and twine are at the top.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Rose-Breasted Finch Hanging from a Nail

Barbara Dietzsch

Date
c. 1760
Medium
watercolor and gouache on vellum on old mount
Dimensions
overall: 19.3 x 14.6 cm (7 5/8 x 5 3/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2002.16.1
Credit line
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Time span
1751 to 1775
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • German
  • bird
  • animal
  • still life
  • still
Provenance

P. Brandt, Amsterdam, 1964. Dr. J. A. van Dongen, Amsterdam. (sale, Christie's London, 18 April 2000, no. 153, bought in). (R. M. Light & Co., Inc., Santa Barbara); purchased 2001 by NGA.

NGA object ID 121308. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.