Artwork
Breakfast Still Life with Glass and Metalwork
Breakfast Still Life with Glass and Metalwork is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Jansz den Uyl. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Jan Jansz.
About this work
Overview
Jan Jansz. den Uyl's Breakfast Still Life with Glass and Metalwork, painted in 1638, exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age's focus on detailed genre scenes. This oil painting presents a meticulously arranged collection of domestic objects, characteristic of the artist's specialized still-life compositions. It is currently housed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a table draped with a white cloth, laden with items typical of a modest meal. A pie on a plate, a metal pitcher, and various drinking vessels
—including a glass goblet, a tazza cup, and a half-empty beer glass
—are carefully arranged alongside scattered nuts. These elements collectively reflect everyday domestic life during the Dutch Golden Age.
Technique & Style
Den Uyl was recognized for his expertise in still-life painting, often creating elaborate table settings. In this work, he employs dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, a technique known as chiaroscuro, to give the objects a vivid presence. The interplay of illumination makes certain elements, such as the pie, appear to emanate light against the darker tones of the background and other items.
Context
Created during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of significant artistic flourishing in the Netherlands, this painting belongs to a popular genre.
Created during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of significant artistic flourishing in the Netherlands, this painting belongs to a popular genre. Still lifes, particularly those depicting domestic scenes and everyday objects, were highly sought after by a burgeoning merchant class. Den Uyl's work contributes to this rich tradition, reflecting the era's appreciation for detailed observation and material culture.
History & Provenance
Jan Jansz. den Uyl completed Breakfast Still Life with Glass and Metalwork in 1638. The painting is a notable example of his output during the Dutch Golden Age. Over time, it entered the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains a part of their holdings, representing the period's artistic achievements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Jansz. den Uyl (Utrecht (?), 1595/96 – 24 November 1639) was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age. He very much specialized in the form of still life known as the breakfast piece, or, in the elaborate style of painters…
