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 Flegel, from Moravia, worked in Vienna and (after 1593) in Frankfurt. His style eschews Netherlandish refinement in favor of naturalistic precision, a tradition extending from the nature studies of Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) and Hans Hoffmann (1545/50—1591/92) to the miniatures of Joris Hoefnagel (1542–1601?) and drawings by Jacques de Gheyn (1565–1629).

German still-life painter George Flegel (1566-1638) specialized in paintings of tables set for meals with food, wine and flowers. I find this particular painting of Flegel’s very unusual and idiosyncratic. The elements of the composition are very deliberately laid out on the table and amidst the dead birds, feathers and fruits—all rather scientifically painted in a presentational manner—is perched a little goldfinch, very much alive.

http://venetianred.net/2010/03/30/the-beautiful-vagabonds-bi rds-in-art/

http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/artist.php?artistid=4363