# Hunter’s Bag on a Terrace

- By: Melchior d'Hondecoeter (Utrecht, 1636–1695)
- Date: c. 1678
- Medium: canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: height 211 cm x width 137 cm
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-A-171--144cba852ebf951433c9febe74bac3ec)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/fjQMt/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Together, the two paintings hanging side by side here tell a story. In this one, a magnificent peacock wants to be king of the birds. Meanwhile, the magpie taking centre stage in the other painting voices its objection. The point is that being a worthy ruler is not solely about attractive appearances: he must be able to defend his people. Here, the right king is already present, symbolized by an orange: William III of Orange.