A Pelican and other Birds near a Pool, Known as ‘The Floating Feather’, Melchior d'Hondecoeter specialised in depicting birds. Here he painted a pelican, various ducks, a cassowary (left), a flamingo and an African crested crane. D'Hondecoeter was commissioned to paint the work by Stadholder William III and his wife Mary. It was intended for Het Loo palace, where William and Mary kept a menagerie of exotic animals.

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Size: 4704px × 5200px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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