Farmyard Fowls

John James Audubon

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows three chickens around a small wooden enclosure. A large rooster is on the left, its body turned to the right, showing its long tail feathers. It has its head low to the ground and appears to have a seed or piece of grain in its mouth. On the right is a wooden container with a large opening in the side. Inside this box is a hen sitting on a round white egg. It is turned to the left, and its face is close to the rooster's. Another hen stands on top of the box looking down at the rooster. All of the chickens are white with red faces. The hens have tufts of white feathers on the tops of their heads, while the rooster has a bright red comb. The color palette includes warm, earthy tones like cream, brown, and pale yellow. The background is black, and the brown ground is covered in pieces of straw.