Reference No.: 78J/ 2756

Origin: Flanders

Period: 19th century

Origin: Private Collection

Composition: Wool and silk

Dimension: 1.80 L x 1.80 H

In the 7th century falconry was introduced in the regions of Europe conquered by the great invasions, then reached England in the 9th century. It was only in the Middle Ages that the falcon, in France, was tamed to hunt and that falconry, in Europe, developed in all countries.

In Europe, falcon hunting reached its peak under the reign of Louis XIII, and French falconry was the first in the world, but this type of hunting remained the entertainment of kings and a sport reserved for the nobility. However, falconry was to go out of fashion because Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI practiced hunting for running (venereal disease) rather than hunting for theft (volley). After the Revolution, the Convention abolished the royal charges of falconry and its practice.

Eugène Fromentin continues in Algeria the tradition of travel to the East initiated by Eugène Delacroix. Among the themes he deals with, falcon hunting is the painter's favourite, hence this "Falcon Hunt in Algeria: the Priest", his most famous painting at the time. The scene depicts the priest: two horsemen watch their servants tear the hare they just killed from the falcons' greenhouses.

Fromentin's painting is linked to the romantic orientalist tradition and gives us a somewhat nostalgic image of the past, especially the medieval one. In this work we find not only the influence of Delacroix but also that of Ingres.

Frederick II of Hohenstaufen (1194-1250) ruled the Holy Roman Empire from 1220 to 1250 and experienced permanent conflicts with the Papacy, which excommunicated him twice. His comprehensive treatise on falconry, whose preface contained a praise of experience against the theories, consists of six books: the first is a general ornithology that deals with hunting birds and their game birds, the next two describe the collapse of falcons, and the last three teach hunting with gyrfalcons, sacks and peregrines. There is also a version (of only 2 books) translated into French. But the book did not only deal with falconry, but also contained a section on the anatomy of 900 bird species, including a remarkable description of the different wing positions during the flight.

The most admirable manuscript, because it is illuminated (the illustrations in the margins are of great beauty), is kept in the Vatican Library, which is a highlight, since this book, because of Frederick II's opinions towards the popes, was put on the index by the Church until the 16th century.

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