Artwork
Still life with berries
Still life with berries is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Floris van Schooten. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1628 by Dutch painter Floris van Schooten, this oil painting presents a modest still‑life arrangement on a darkened tabletop. The composition includes a reflective metal cup, a loaf of bread on a plate, assorted red berries, olives, a twisted pretzel, and two apples of contrasting hues. The work belongs to the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
Subject & Meaning
The objects—fruit, bread, a chalice, and olives—reflect everyday nourishment and the abundance of a Dutch household in the early seventeenth century. Their juxtaposition invites contemplation of the transient nature of food and the sensory pleasures of the domestic sphere, a common theme in van Schooten’s still‑life repertoire.
Technique & Style
Van Schooten employs a chiaroscuro effect, casting deep shadows against a near‑black background while allowing a focused light source to illuminate the surfaces. The metallic sheen of the cup, the soft texture of the bread, and the glossy skins of the berries are rendered with precise brushwork that enhances their three‑dimensional presence.
History & Provenance
The painting emerged during the Dutch Golden Age, a period when still‑life subjects flourished as symbols of prosperity and moral reflection. It entered the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains part of the museum’s representation of seventeenth‑century Dutch art.
Context
Floris van Schooten was active in Haarlem, a hub for still‑life painters who emphasized realistic depiction of ordinary objects. His work aligns with contemporaries who explored the visual and symbolic potential of food, drink, and tableware, contributing to the broader development of genre painting in the Netherlands.
Artist & collection
Artist
Floris Gerritsz van Schooten or Floris van Schooten (between 1585 and 1588 – buried 14 November 1656) was a Dutch painter who practised in a broad range of still life genres including breakfast pieces, fruit pieces, market scenes and large…
Museum
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
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