Hunter’s Bag on a Terrace, Melchior d'Hondecoeter, c. 1678
oil on canvas, h 211cm × w 137cm More details
Together, the two paintings hanging side by side here tell a story. In this one, a magnificent peacock wants to be king of the birds. Meanwhile, the magpie taking centre stage in the other painting voices its objection. The point is that being a worthy ruler is not solely about attractive appearances: he must be able to defend his people. Here, the right king is already present, symbolized by an orange: William III of Orange.
