Artwork
Still life with wineglass, flute, glass, earthenware jug and pipes
Still life with wineglass, flute, glass, earthenware jug and pipes is an oil painting by Jan Jansz van de Velde. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
This 1651 oil painting by Jan Jansz van de Velde presents a still life composition on a darkened tabletop. Everyday objects—glassware, ceramics, and smoking paraphernalia—are arranged without narrative or human presence. The work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it exemplifies the Dutch still life tradition of the mid-seventeenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The tableau assembles utilitarian items: a rummer, a silver flute, an earthenware jug adorned with a painted horse, a blue-and-white bowl of plums, oysters, a pipe, and a lemon. Such groupings often carried subtle moral or temporal associations, though the painting’s primary focus remains the objects themselves rather than overt symbolism.
Technique & Style
Van de Velde employs chiaroscuro to dramatic effect, bathing select surfaces in concentrated light while submerging the background in near-blackness. This contrast heightens the tactile qualities of glass, metal, and glazed pottery, lending the objects a pronounced three-dimensionality. Brushwork remains precise yet unobtrusive, prioritizing descriptive clarity over visible gesture.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1651, the painting has been part of the Rijksmuseum’s holdings since its acquisition. Little documentation survives regarding its early ownership, though its survival suggests it was preserved within private or institutional collections typical of Dutch Golden Age works.
Context
The work emerges from a period when Dutch still life painting flourished, reflecting both the prosperity of the merchant class and an interest in material culture. Artists frequently depicted objects of trade, domesticity, or leisure, often imbuing compositions with quiet reflections on transience or abundance.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Jansz van de Velde (1620–1662) was a Dutch artist, born in Haarlem.
Still-life with a Tall Beer Glass
Still life with wineglass, beer glass and pipe
Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries
Glasses, Smoking Implements, and Cards
Still Life with Roemer, Salt Cellar, Tobacco, Lemon, and Olives
Still Life with Goblet and Fruit
Still Life with a clay Pipe
Still life with fruit and wine glass
