Christophe Huet (1700 – 1759) - Scène animalière avec Grue Couronnée

Christophe Huet
(Pontoise, 1700 - Paris, 1759)
‘Animal scene with crowned crane’.
Oil on canvas, 119 x 157 cm
Signed and dated lower centre: C. Huet 17?2
This work features a crowned crane with delicately rendered plumage, occupying the centre of the composition. Its elegant posture and head adorned with golden feathers immediately attract attention. Around her, a variety of fauna enliven the scene: a white ibis, a sultana talobus, Numidian hens and a monkey perched in a tree, holding a piece of fruit. The foreground, richly decorated with tropical fruits such as pomegranates and melons, symbolises abundance and prosperity. To the right, two goats introduce a pastoral touch, while the background reveals a rolling landscape with a winding river running through it, adding depth and harmony to the composition.
Christophe Huet, an 18th-century French painter and decorator, is famous for his animal scenes and antics. The son of a goldsmith, he was admitted to the Académie de Saint-Luc in 1734 and worked with renowned artists on prestigious projects.
The work, restored and lined, is in a good state of conservation.
Significant works in museums:
- Cabinet des Singes, Château de Chantilly, Oise: humorous décor featuring anthropomorphic monkeys.
- Cabinet des Singes, Hôtel de Rohan, Paris: similar scenes integrated into aristocratic decorations.
- Animal decorations, Château de Champs-sur-Marne (1748): works combining fauna and flora in a refined style.
- Salon doré, Château d'Anet (no longer in existence): collaboration with Claude III Audran.