A Fox Stalking a Brace of Partridges 

Jean-Baptiste Oudry painted “A Fox Stalking a Brace of Partridges” in France, probably in the first half of the 18th century. As a painter employed by the French court, Oudry specialized in hunting scenes and animal portraits. This painting evokes a sense of the aristocratic pursuit of game and its suggestion of dominance over the natural world. It also presents nature as an arena for social and political maneuvering. The fox’s predatory stance and the vulnerability of the partridges can be viewed as metaphors for the power dynamics within the court and the broader social hierarchy. Oudry’s paintings were collected by the aristocracy and displayed in their residences, reinforcing their status and power. Understanding these histories allows us to delve deeper into the social and institutional contexts that shaped Oudry’s work and its reception by contemporary audiences.