# Argus Pheasant

- By: Pieter Pietersz. Barbiers (Amsterdam, voor–1842)
- Date: c. 1780 - c. 1842
- Medium: paper, pencil, watercolor (paint)
- Classification: drawing
- Dimensions: height 338 mm x width 512 mm
- Credit line: M.E. van den Brink Bequest, Velp
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/RP-T-1905-254--b7f1a0db71a73a6d3368981675f592bc)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://invisiblenetwork.ai/thumbs/web/c84e80f04c3b0d007f7eaf6130497119.jpg
- Who can see it: Little Ones profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

In recording this argus pheasant, Pieter Barbiers focused on the faithful depiction of its plumage. The countless dots and round spots on the tail and wing feathers are called Argus eyes, a reference (like the bird’s name itself) to the hundred-eyed giant Argus in Greek mythology. According to the classical myth, the giant’s eyes were forever preserved in the similar pattern on a peacock’s tail.