Artwork
Still life of a table with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish
Still life of a table with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Alexander Adriaenssen. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Alexander Adriaenssen, a 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, created this oil painting titled Still life of a table with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish in 1601. The work exemplifies the still life genre, a specialty of Adriaenssen, and features a humble yet detailed arrangement of common foodstuffs and domestic items. It is currently housed in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a simple, unpretentious spread on a wooden table. A large loaf of bread, notably with a piece already removed, sits alongside a bowl of cheese and a plate of fish. Various drinking vessels, smaller dishes, a knife, and a few apples complete the scene, reflecting typical provisions and implements found in a 17th-century household.
Technique & Style
This approach enhances the tactile quality of the food, such as the bread and cheese, while highlighting the reflective surfaces of the fish and crockery.
Adriaenssen employs a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and shadow to create a sense of depth and volume, making the objects appear to project from the canvas. This approach enhances the tactile quality of the food, such as the bread and cheese, while highlighting the reflective surfaces of the fish and crockery. The dark background further emphasizes the warmth and presence of the depicted items.
Context
As a painter active during the Dutch Golden Age, Alexander Adriaenssen frequently dedicated his practice to still life compositions, often incorporating fish and elaborate banquet scenes. This particular work, dating from 1601, aligns with his established specialization in depicting food and game, showcasing his skill within a popular and evolving genre of the time.
History & Provenance
This oil painting, Still life of a table with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish, has been preserved within the esteemed collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Its presence there contributes to the museum's representation of 17th-century Flemish Baroque art, particularly within the still life tradition.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Alexander Adriaenssen (1587–1661) was a Flemish Baroque painter, particularly known for his still-lifes of fish and game pieces. He also painted banquet pieces with food and flower still lifes.
