Artwork
Still life with wine glass and stoneware jug
Still life with wine glass and stoneware jug is a paint painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelis Mahu. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis Mahu, a 17th-century Flemish artist, completed *Still life with wine glass and stoneware jug* in 1648.
Cornelis Mahu, a 17th-century Flemish artist, completed *Still life with wine glass and stoneware jug* in 1648. This painting exemplifies the detailed still life tradition prevalent during the Dutch Golden Age. Mahu, recognized for his careful compositions across various genres including seascapes and genre scenes, applied his characteristic precision to this domestic arrangement. The work is currently housed in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a carefully arranged collection of objects on a draped table. Central elements include a Westerwald stoneware wine pitcher and a delicate chalice, alongside a Gouda clay pipe and a langoustine. Various fruits, a neatly folded napkin, and a tablecloth further enrich the composition. Such arrangements often served as a display of artistic skill and could subtly allude to themes of transience or sensory pleasure.
Technique & Style
Mahu's meticulous approach is evident in the rendering of diverse textures and forms. The artist captures the delicate transparency of the wine glass, the intricate pattern on the stoneware jug, and the vibrant hues of the ripe fruits. The precise folding of the napkin and the way the tablecloth drapes contribute to a sense of depth and realism, showcasing the detailed craftsmanship characteristic of the period's still life painting.
Context
Created during the flourishing period of the Dutch Golden Age, this still life reflects the era's appreciation for domestic scenes and the detailed depiction of everyday objects. Cornelis Mahu, though Flemish, contributed to this broader artistic movement with his refined technique. His versatility extended beyond still life to include genre scenes and seascapes, all marked by a consistent level of artistic skill and compositional rigor.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Mahu (1613 – 16 November 1689) was a Flemish painter of still lifes, genre paintings and seascapes who showed a very high level of craftsmanship in his compositions.
