Who painted Still Life?

Still Life was painted by Unknown in 1667.

Where can I see Still Life?

Still Life is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

Artwork

Still Life

Still Life is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 1667 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created around 1667, this still‑life composition by the artist known as 655_person is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1667, this still‑life composition by the artist known as 655_person is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a modest arrangement of everyday objects rendered with careful attention to surface and form, inviting close observation of ordinary materials within a quiet, enclosed space.

Subject & Meaning

The painting gathers a polished metal bowl containing a single pale pear, a delicate butterfly perched on a ledge, a cluster of dark grapes laid on a cloth, and a simple glass jar in the background. By selecting these modest items, the artist highlights the transient beauty of daily life and the subtle interplay of natural and manufactured forms.

Technique & Style

A pronounced contrast between light and shadow gives the composition a three‑dimensional quality, especially evident in the pear’s rounded volume against the dark backdrop. The handling of light reflects the chiaroscuro approach, where illuminated surfaces emerge sharply from surrounding darkness, enhancing texture and materiality while creating a sense of depth without relying on elaborate background scenery.

History & Provenance

The work has been housed in the Museum of Ethnography since its acquisition, though details of its early ownership remain sparse. Its dating to the mid‑17th century places it within a period when still‑life painting served both decorative and didactic purposes, documenting material culture and the artist’s skill in rendering everyday objects with realism.