The Goldfinch Released

This recent work alludes to an exquisite little painting of a chained goldfinch by 17th century Dutch painter Carel Fabritius.  There are no more than a dozen of his works in existence as his studio was in the neighborhood of the Delft city arsenal, which exploded one day and completely destroyed his studio killing the artist and his assistant. 

I have always had ambivalent feelings about caged or restrained birds.  Yes, they are safe and probably well-fed , but oh, the life they miss with other birds and the freedom to fly where they please and procreate.  Many interior paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries feature caged song birds.  They must have been a popular source of amusement in those days before radio and television as well as good company.  My goldfinch has been freed but is obviously still haunting the kitchen and eyeing those plump grapes.