Artwork
Sumptuous Still Life with Fruits, Pie and Goblets, 1651
Sumptuous Still Life with Fruits, Pie and Goblets, 1651 is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Davidsz. de Heem. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum. Created in 1651, this oil on canvas presents a meticulously arranged still life typical of the Dutch Golden Age.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1651, this oil on canvas presents a meticulously arranged still life typical of the Dutch Golden Age. The composition centers on a table draped with a white cloth, upon which a partially consumed pie, clusters of grapes, a lemon, shrimp, goblets and a decorative metal vessel are displayed against a dark backdrop that accentuates their varied hues and textures.
Subject & Meaning
The work gathers symbols of abundance and transience: ripe fruit and a sweet pastry suggest prosperity, while the peeled lemon and shrimp hint at the fleeting nature of pleasure. The inclusion of luxurious goblets and metalware underscores material wealth, a common theme in 17th‑century Dutch still lifes that juxtaposes opulence with moral reflection.
Technique & Style
De Heem employs a refined chiaroscuro, using deep shadows to model forms and bring forward the luminous surfaces of glass, metal and fruit. Fine brushwork renders the delicate skin of grapes, the glossy peel of the lemon, and the subtle sheen of the shrimp, while the textured cloth and table surface provide a tactile contrast.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the permanent collection of the Städel Museum in Frankfurt. It entered the museum’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century, joining a broader assemblage of Dutch Golden Age works that illustrate the period’s fascination with detailed, decorative still lifes.
Context
Jan Davidsz. de Heem, active in both the Netherlands and Antwerp, was renowned for combining Flemish richness with Dutch precision. This piece reflects his mature style, where sumptuous banquet scenes merge with a scientific interest in the accurate depiction of light, surface and material.
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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.
