A cassowary stands in profile in Jean-Baptiste Oudry's 1745 painting. The artist's skill in capturing the likeness and texture of animals is evident in this striking portrait.

Jean-Baptiste Oudry's 1745 painting, Cassowary, presents a striking portrait of the large flightless bird against a muted coastal backdrop. Oudry, a painter, draughtsman, and engraver, served as both a professor at the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, and as artistic director at the Royal Beauvais factory, later also at the Gobelins tapestry factory. He was known for his animal paintings, hunting scenes, and still lifes. This particular work depicts a cassowary standing prominently in the foreground. The bird's dark plumage contrasts with its bare neck and legs, and the artist has paid close attention to the texture of its feathers. The background features a pale sky, a glimpse of the sea, and a gently sloping hill, all rendered in soft, diffused tones. The composition is simple, focusing attention on the exotic subject. Oudry's skill in capturing the likeness and texture of animals is evident in this piece, which combines scientific observation with artistic interpretation.