Who painted Still Life with Fruit and Birds?

Still Life with Fruit and Birds was painted by Unknown in 1663.

Where can I see Still Life with Fruit and Birds?

Still Life with Fruit and Birds is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Still Life with Fruit and Birds

Still Life with Fruit and Birds is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1663 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1663, this still‑life composition is attributed to the artist recorded as 38108_person and is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a densely arranged tableau of food items on a darkened surface, rendered in a manner that emphasizes texture and materiality.

Subject & Meaning

The painting gathers a variety of edible objects—a basket of red fruit, a sizable lobster, a skinned bird, onions, squash, peaches, and a dead fish—alongside a polished metal pitcher. By juxtaposing fresh produce with dead game, the image evokes themes of abundance, mortality, and the fleeting nature of sustenance.

Technique & Style

Employing strong contrasts between illuminated surfaces and a near‑black background, the artist creates a dramatic chiaroscuro effect that gives the objects a three‑dimensional presence. Careful modeling of light on shells, skin, and metal highlights texture, while the deep shadows provide spatial depth and focus the viewer’s eye on the vivid colors.

History & Provenance

The work, dated to the mid‑17th century, entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date. Its attribution to 38108_person remains based on stylistic analysis rather than documented signatures, and the piece has been referenced in scholarly discussions of European still‑life traditions of the period.