Artwork
Two Carps on a Kitchen Table
Two Carps on a Kitchen Table is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Felice Boselli. It dates from 1688 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1688, *Two Carps on a Kitchen Table* is an oil painting by Italian Baroque artist Felice Boselli. The work presents a pair of carp lying on a modest kitchen table, rendered with a focus on realistic detail. It is currently housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the two fish, whose lifelike scales and fins dominate the visual field. By placing the carp on a domestic surface, Boselli emphasizes the everyday presence of foodstuffs, a common theme in still-life painting that invites contemplation of abundance and mortality.
Technique & Style
Boselli employs a naturalistic approach, using precise brushwork to delineate the texture of the fish and the wood grain of the table. Strong chiaroscuro creates a dramatic contrast between illuminated surfaces and deep shadows, enhancing the three‑dimensionality of the objects and highlighting their material qualities.
History & Provenance
Trained under Michelangelo Nuvolone and influenced by Angelo Maria Crivelli, Boselli specialized in depictions of game and fish. This particular piece reflects his mature period in Piacenza. It entered the collection of Denmark’s national gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display.
Context
Although Boselli was Italian, the painting aligns with the Flemish Baroque tradition, which prized meticulous detail and vivid lighting in still-life works. The work exemplifies the cross‑regional exchange of artistic ideas during the late 17th century, merging Italian training with Northern European aesthetic preferences.
Artist & collection
Artist
Felice Boselli (Piacenza, 20 April 1650 – Parma, 23 August 1732) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Piacenza.
