Artwork
Stillleben mit Früchten
Stillleben mit Früchten is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Gertrud Metz. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1769, *Stillleben mit Früchten* is a still‑life painting by German artist Gertrud Metz (1746‑1793). Executed during the Rococo period, the work presents a composition of assorted fruit set against a deep, almost black background. It is part of the permanent collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas gathers a variety of ripe produce—rounded pears, tightly clustered grapes, and soft‑skinned peaches or apricots—interspersed with foliage, a few feathers and a delicate butterfly. The juxtaposition of abundant, sensuous fruit with the fleeting presence of the insect suggests a meditation on the transience of nature’s bounty.
Technique & Style
Metz employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing intense shadows to define the forms and make the fruit appear to emerge from darkness. The rendering of textures—glossy skins, crisp leaves, and the subtle feathering—demonstrates a careful handling of light that heightens the three‑dimensional illusion typical of Rococo still lifes.
History & Provenance
Born in Bonn, Metz worked primarily in the German-speaking lands before relocating to London, where she died in 1793. After its creation, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Alte Pinakothek, where it has remained on display as part of the museum’s 18th‑century holdings.
Context
The work reflects the Rococo fascination with decorative elegance and the celebration of everyday objects. In the mid‑18th century, still‑life paintings served both as displays of technical skill and as symbols of domestic prosperity, aligning Metz’s approach with contemporary tastes in aristocratic and bourgeois interiors.
Artist & collection
Artist
Maria Gertrud Metz (born 1746 in Bonn, died 1793 in London), also known as Gertrude or Gertrudis Metz, was a German still life painter.
