E. Salingre. The Partridge Put To Hang

True gourmets, unafraid of gout or cholesterol, will salivate at the sight of this small painting. This partridge, hanging by its leg from a nail, peacefully awaits its proper gamey ripening before ending up in the pot. The most ardent connoisseurs will wait until it has a runny beak, or even until its leg detaches... Rural life having long since declined, this culinary tradition is fading away, succumbing to the onslaught of modern cuisine, healthy if not exactly flavorful. Eugène Édouard Salingre (1829-1892) was passionate, as one can sense when observing this small painting by the shimmering plumage of the birds; he made a specialty of this type of representation. Restored and cleaned, the painting is beautifully presented in a wide gilt frame from the same period. Canvas dimensions: 22 cm x 16.5 cm