Who painted Trompe l'Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag?

Trompe l'Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag was painted by Unknown in 1672.

Where can I see Trompe l'Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag?

Trompe l'Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Trompe l'Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag?

Trompe l'Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Trompe l'Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag

Unknown , 1672

Trompe l'Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag is a photography by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1672 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1672, Trompe l’Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag is an oil painting that resides in the Museum of Ethnography.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1672, Trompe l’Oeil with Riding Whip and Letter Bag is an oil painting that resides in the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a riding whip and a leather letter bag rendered with such precision that they appear to project from the wall. The plain, light‑coloured background isolates the objects, emphasizing the illusion of three‑dimensionality.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts two everyday items of the seventeenth‑century equestrian world: a whip with a striped wooden handle and a curved tip, and a dark brown leather bag with a flap. By selecting mundane objects, the artist invites viewers to question the boundary between painted surface and reality, a playful commentary on perception.

Technique & Style

The painting employs trompe l’oeil, a visual trick that uses meticulous modelling, sharp edges and subtle gradations of light to simulate depth. The handling of light and shadow follows chiaroscuro principles, creating a convincing sense of volume that was characteristic of Baroque illusionistic practices in the 1600s.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the anonymous artist catalogued as 2588_person, the work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s collection through an acquisition in the early twentieth century. Its provenance prior to that remains undocumented, reflecting the common anonymity of many trompe l’oeil pieces produced for decorative interiors during the period.