Artwork
Still life with a lobster
Still life with a lobster is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelis de Heem. It dates from 1673 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis de Heem’s oil painting Still life with a lobster, executed around 1673, is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. The work presents a compact arrangement of a lobster, grapes and a glass on a tabletop, rendered with the meticulous detail typical of Dutch still‑life tradition.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on an orange lobster, its claws and segmented legs rendered with precise brushwork. Behind it lie clusters of green‑yellow grapes, while an empty, tilted glass rests further back, creating a layered sense of depth and inviting contemplation of abundance and the fleeting nature of luxury.
Technique & Style
De Heem employs a smooth, luminous oil glaze to model the glossy shell of the lobster and the translucent surface of the glass. The careful handling of light highlights the textures of the crustacean’s carapace and the fruit’s skin, reflecting the meticulous realism and rich colour palette characteristic of mid‑17th‑century Dutch still‑life painting.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1673, the painting entered the National Museum in Warsaw’s holdings during the 20th century, though the exact acquisition path remains undocumented in public records. Its presence in a major European museum underscores the lasting interest in de Heem’s work beyond his native Netherlands.
Context
Cornelis de Heem, son of the celebrated still‑life painter Jan Davidsz. de Heem, continued the family’s tradition of elaborate banquet scenes. This piece reflects the period’s fascination with exotic marine fare, such as lobsters, which symbolised wealth and were increasingly featured in Dutch market and banquet paintings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis de Heem was a still-life painter associated with both Flemish Baroque and Dutch Golden Age painting.
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