North Carolina Museum of Art

A specialty of the artist, this type of painting was typically commissioned to adorn the dining room walls of Oudry's aristocratic clientele. This painting and the other two that have survived from the same ensemble were originally nearly twice their pres ent height. An engraving after Oudry's preparatory drawing (see illustration) indicates the original composition. At some later point, after they were sold and moved from their original location, all three works were cut down to fit into their new setting . Visible under strong light is the shadowy form of the remaining part of the boar's carcass. It was originally suspended above the dog and swan in the present painting but was painted over to make the reduced composition appear more coherent. In spite of its present truncated state, Oudry's work remains a stunning and dynamic composition, offering ample testimony to his virtuosity as a painter of animals.