Rijksmuseum

Argus Pheasant

Date

c. 1780 - c. 1842

Medium

paper, pencil, watercolor (paint)

Institution

Rijksmuseum

Object ID

RP-T-1905-254

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.

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