The Porter and the Hare

Johann Zoffany painted The Porter and the Hare around 1768, a still-life subject unusual in his predominantly figure-based output that demonstrates his range beyond the portraiture and theatrical scenes for which he is primarily known. The sporting still life — a game bird or animal ready for cooking — was a standard genre in the Northern European tradition, and Zoffany's treatment shows his mastery of textures and surfaces — fur, feathers, stone, fabric — that served him well in the elaborate costume and accessory rendering of his theatrical and conversation pieces.

Zoffany renders the genre scene with his characteristic meticulous detail and warm coloring. The careful observation of textures and expressions demonstrates his skill in creating narrative interest within a modest domestic subject.