Falcon Hunting

This is a genre scene depicting an ancient type of hunting in Russia. Falcon hunting came to Russia from Asia (Mongolia and Kazakhstan) during the period of the Mongol-Tartar Yoke (1243-1480). During the reign of Russian Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich (1629- 1676), falconry in Russia was historically important: falconers from Western Europe were sent to Russia to be educated and instructed at the tsar’s falconry court, which kept about 3,000 gyrfalcons – the strongest and the most beautiful birds of prey used in falconry. In Russia, gyrfalcons were the prerogative of the tsar and his select retinue. Even the nobility (let alone the peasantry) were not allowed to deal with gyrfalcons. When diplomats from Persia or Sweden came to Russia, the best diplomatic present was a gyrfalcon – a present like that could even prevent a war between the nations. At the end of the eighteenth century when firearms appeared, falcon hunting was scaled down.