Spot the Goldfinch and Macaw! Painting by Flemish Old Master sells for almost $108,000 at New York auction

                      

The painting is designed in such a way as to guide the viewer's eye through the garden to the trellis at the end of it

BIRDS seldom seem to feature in Old Masters' paintings.

Invariably, their landscapes are totally birdless apart, perhaps, from a few distant specks in the sky.

However, an exception is this 1620 work by the Flemish artist Abraham Govaerts (1589-1626).

It includes some doves, of unknown species, domestic pigeons and what look like they might be a Goldfinch and a Blue and Gold Macaw - though both hopelessly out of scale.

The painting is based on the myth of who Verumnus who disguised himself to gain entry to the home of Pomona, goddess of orchards and gardens, in order to woo her.

Earlier this week, it went under the hammer for $107,950  at an auction  of Old Master held by Christie's at their saleroom in New York.

This figure was at the lower end of the range of the  pre-sale estimate of $100,000  and $150,000.