Matthias Withoos

This is one of the rare large-format underbrush, or sottobosco works to emerge from the Netherlandish tradition of painting. Mathias Withoos was a specialist in the genre and a pupil of Jacob van Campen (1595-1657) and then Otto Marseus van Schrieck (1619/20-1678) to whom his style remained much indebted. Withoos was made a master of the Amsfoort guild in 1647. In the following year he travelled to Italy with Schrieck and Willem van Aelst (1627-1687). While in Rome he became a member of the Schildersbent and attracted important patrons, including Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici amongst others.

In a letter dated 12 September 1996, Dr. Fred Meijer, noted that this is a "characteristic and impressive work" by Withoos. He further noted that he believes the Weenix signature was probably altered from a genuine Withoos signature, but that the date of 1660 is likely to be authentic. 

It has been suggested that the erratic behavior of the birds is a result of their eating berries that have been drugged, possibly a technique of bird catching. The exacting detail of the underbrush and surrounding foliage are a hallmark of the sottobosco tradition, but its impressive size sets this work apart from many others in this genre.