The Hippopotamus Hunt is a well-known painting by Dutch artist Peter Paul Rubens, which was completed in 1615. It is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Baroque painting, with a dramatic and tense atmosphere. A group of men, some on horseback, are engaged in a fierce battle in the painting. A vicious hippopotamus, his teeth bared, perches atop or beside a crocodile, is at the center of the action. Although the crocodile is secondary to the hippopotamus when viewing the painting, it is also known as the Hippopotamus and Crocodile Hunt.
From 1577 to 1640, Peter Paul Rubens lived. He lived in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, and painted for royalty and nobility on a regular basis. Maximilian I, Duke of Bavaria, commissioned the Hippopotamus Hunt in 1615. This painting resembled many of Rubens’ other works, which were frequently filled with violent images and a sense of drama.
The Hippopotamus Hunt is seen by some art critics as a symbol of the age-old conflict between man and beast. Viewers can see not only the hippo and the crocodile in this single image, but also images that suggest the presence of a snake, leopard, horses, and dogs. Hunting was strictly prohibited during this time period, and only the wealthiest nobles were permitted to do so. At the time, a painting of a hunt scene could have been considered a status symbol.
During this time period, man’s fascination with unknown species and the exotic was also evident in this image. Travel was limited at the start of the 17th century, and few men would ever get the chance to see a hippopotamus or a crocodile. Due to its violent nature and focus on wild and exotic creatures, this painting may have been intended to shock.
The Hippopotamus Hunt, like many of Rubens’ paintings, is distinguished by strong diagonal lines that purposefully direct the viewer’s gaze from one area of the painting to the next. Both the horse and the animal appear to be in danger, tense, and full of emotion in this painting. The audience is left guessing whether man or animal will win the battle.
The subject of this painting was one of four Rubens completed depicting a brutal and violent hunt. A bear, a wolf, and a wild boar were among the others. In December 2010, Christie’s Auction House in London sold the entire set of four paintings, including the Hippopotamus Hunt, for 10,000 pounds (roughly $15,000 USD).