Artwork
Still Life with a Lobster
Still Life with a Lobster is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Abraham van Beijeren. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Overview
Still Life with a Lobster is a 17th-century oil painting by Abraham van Beijeren, a Dutch artist known for his still lifes. Created around 1650, it exemplifies the pronkstillevens tradition of the Dutch Golden Age.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a still life arrangement with a lobster, an ornate tazza, grapes, a bread roll, and other objects on a table, set against a dark background. The composition balances these elements to create a sense of harmony.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of chiaroscuro, with strong contrasts between light and dark, creates a sense of volume and depth. The arrangement of objects also generates a sense of texture, drawing the viewer's eye to the lobster and tazza as focal points.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the Ashmolean Museum. Van Beijeren, initially trained as a marine painter, was later recognized as a leading still-life artist, despite being underappreciated during his lifetime.
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham Hendriksz van Beijeren or Abraham van Beyeren (c. 1620, The Hague – March 1690, Overschie (Rotterdam)) was a Dutch Baroque painter of still lifes. Little recognized in his day and initially active as a marine…
Still Life with Lobster and Fruit
Still life with fruit, roast, silver- and glassware, porcelain and columbine cup on a dark tablecloth with white serviette
Silver Wine Jug, Ham, and Fruit
Snack (Still Life with Crab, Fruit and Clock)
Still life with flowers
Still life on a draped table with a sculpture of Venus in a niche behind a curtain
still-life
Still Life with Silver-gilt Bekerschroef with Roemer
