Artwork
Still life with a "roemer", a fallen jug and a lobster
Still life with a "roemer", a fallen jug and a lobster is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Davidsz. de Heem. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Jan Davidsz.
About this work
Overview
Central elements include a large, decorated roemer glass, a tipped ewer with its contents spilling, a vivid red lobster, and assorted fruit and tableware.
Jan Davidsz. de Heem’s 1635 oil on canvas presents a meticulously arranged still‑life composition typical of the Dutch Golden Age. Central elements include a large, decorated roemer glass, a tipped ewer with its contents spilling, a vivid red lobster, and assorted fruit and tableware. The objects rest against a deep, muted backdrop that heightens their color and texture, inviting close observation.
Subject & Meaning
The painting juxtaposes luxury and decay: the gleaming glass and polished silverware contrast with the fallen jug and the lifeless lobster, suggesting the fleeting nature of wealth and abundance. The inclusion of citrus, a common symbol of freshness, alongside the overturned vessel underscores a moment of disruption within an otherwise orderly banquet scene.
Technique & Style
De Heem employs a restrained chiaroscuro, with illumination arriving from the left, casting soft shadows that model each surface. Layered glazing builds the luminous sheen of glass and the delicate translucency of the lemon, while impasto highlights the lobster’s crustacean shell. The overall effect is a controlled realism that emphasizes tactile qualities without sacrificing atmospheric depth.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑17th century, the work entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where it remains on display. Its provenance reflects the broader European interest in Dutch still‑life painting, which was collected by aristocratic patrons and later incorporated into major public institutions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Maria van Oosterwijck (1630–1693), also spelled Oosterwyck, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, specialising in richly detailed flower paintings and other still lifes.
