Boar Hunt

Heavy Hounds in Action

This work by Anton Enzinger (c 1683–1768) shows neither a vast landscape nor an aristocratic hunting-party, but focuses close-up on the dramatic scene that fills the picture, framed between tree-trunks and the edge of a forest. Four heavy hounds (known as “Saupacker”) are savaging a wild boar. They all wear collars showing to which wealthy household they belong. At the imperial court, the master huntsman was responsible for supervising the kennels. Dog breeds were distinguished according to whether they were used for hunting deer or wild boar. Their age, pedigree name and first participation in a court hunt were meticulously recorded.
Here the hounds have surrounded their prey, their jaws open ready to bite, or have already sunk their teeth in. The boar attempts to pin down one of its attackers with its left foreleg – but in vain, given the superior strength of its opponents.
The background, in shades of blue, red and green, shows a meadow with a tree and a mountain amid reddish sunlight and blue sky – more a suggestion of a landscape, without depth. The essential elements are the pack of hounds and the wild boar. The Salzburg artist painted mostly small animal pictures and Dutch-style hunting scenes.

Translated catalogue text from:
Ducke Astrid: Jagddarstellungen. In: Thomas Habersatter, Ducke Astrid (Hrsg.): Natur wird Bild. Österreichische Barocklandschaften. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2021, S. 161–175, Anton Enzinger, Eberjagd, S. 172, Abb. 79, S. 171

Translation: Gail Schamberger MA, Salzburg