{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O314334"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O314334/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE5063/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE5063/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AE5063","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JR5941","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LX8014","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O314334/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O314334","accessionNumber":"A.129-1956","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"Birdcatcher","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This bronze figure depicts a peasant hunting birds at night. In his left hand, held above his head, he is holding a fowling lantern (the lamp is missing). In his right hand, he would have held a staff or a racket (now lost) with which to knock out the birds attracted by the light. One of the birds he has caught is hanging from his belt. \nThe tradition of creating genre figures originated in German and Flemish wood carvings, which were often used to complete Nativity scenes. This bird catcher group was originally modelled by Giambologna, a Flemish-born sculptor who later became the Medici Grand Dukes' court sculptor in Florence. He created three genre groups: the <i>Bird-catcher</i>, the <i>Bagpiper</i> (see V&amp;A: A.59-1956), and a <i>Peasant resting on a staff</i>. The poetic quality of these pastoral scenes clearly appealed to collectors at the time. \nThe bird-catcher model was cast in several versions during and after Giambologna’s lifetime. One version, with a 'Lanthorne in his left hand', was among the fifteen statuettes by Pietro Tacca, based on models by Giambologna, which were presented to Henry, Prince of Wales, by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1612. Following Henry's premature death, these bronzes passed to Charles I, whose passion for collecting art may have been inspired by his older brother.\nThe V&amp;A's version was probably cast in Florence in the first half of the seventeenth century, but the context of the commission remains unknown. \n","physicalDescription":"Statuette of a standing man with a cage lantern above his head. His right hand is closed in a fist as if to hold something, now missing. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Giambologna","id":"A2033"},"association":{"text":"after","id":"THES283471"},"note":"after a model by"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Cast bronze","categories":[{"text":"Bronze","id":"THES49033"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Hunting","id":"THES253059"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AE5063","2017JR5941","2019LX8014"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES396198"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Florence","id":"x28848"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1620 - ca. 1650","earliest":"1615-01-01","latest":"1654-12-31"},"association":{"text":"cast","id":"x32615"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"30.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1956.\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Statuette, bronze, birdcatcher, after a model by Giambologna, Italy, cast circa 1620-1650","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Howarth, D. 'Charles I, Sculpture and Sculptor's'. In: A. MacGregor (ed.), <u>The Late King's Goods</u>, Oxford University Press, London & Oxford, no. 3, p. 74, fig 28"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Charles Avery (ed.), <i>Giambologna Sculptor to the Medici</i>, exh cat. 1978, p. 161. "}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.129-1956"],"accessionNumberNum":"129","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1956,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-22","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}