Carel Brest van Kempen Convoy Through the Canopy
- Size
- 82" x 38" x 2"
- Subject
- Wildlife
- Media
- Painting
- Style
- Representational
- Status
- $30,000.00 Purchase
Convoy Through the Canopy
One of the many African monkey species known as "guenons", de Brazza's Monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) inhabits various types of forest, usually near rivers, from southeastern Cameroon through the southern Central African Republic and throughout most of the former Zaire. In this painting a large troop moves along a massive fig tree (Ficus sp.), accompanied by Long-tailed Hornbills (Tockus albocristatus) and Oil Palm Squirrels (Protoxerus stangeri). Both of these species habitually travel with monkeys, eating insects that are disturbed by their movement, such as the giant cicada (family Cicadidae) in the right panel. The sharp-eyed hornbills return the favor by making a loud racket if they spot a Crowned Eagle, warning the primates of the presence of an important predator. I'm taking some artistic liberties in this piece by depicting such a large group of monkeys so close to a small settlement of humans, the most important monkey predator of all in Central Africa. Incidental animals in this piece include a Crested Chameleon (