Artwork
Plate with Fruits and Shells
Plate with Fruits and Shells is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Balthasar van der Ast. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Plate with Fruits and Shells is a 1630 oil painting by Dutch Golden Age artist Balthasar van der Ast, known for his still lifes featuring flowers, fruit, and shells.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a plate piled with various fruits, surrounded by seashells and small clusters of berries on a dark shelf, accompanied by a butterfly. The arrangement showcases the artist's pioneering work in combining fruit and shells in a still life.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth, with soft shadows and highlights that give the fruit a lifelike appearance. The dark background enhances the colors of the fruit, particularly the reds and yellows.
History & Provenance
Created in 1630, the painting is part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection. Van der Ast was active in Middelburg and Delft between 1593/94 and 1657, and his work often featured insects and lizards alongside fruit and shells.
Artist & collection
Artist
Balthasar van der Ast (Middelburg, 1593/94 – Delft, 7 March 1657) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who specialized in still lifes of flowers and fruit, as well as painting a number of remarkable shell still lifes; he is…
