The source for this painting is Flemish 17th century still life especially the work of Jan Fyt (1611-1661) and Frans Snyders (1579-1657). In the Flemish work, there is often an interaction between the animals and the dead game they so often guard. Deportes has ‘modernised’ the subject by simplifying the composition and adding a sense of humour to the scene. So far the cat has only succeeded in dislodging the feathers of the dead bird which is hanging just out of reach.

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