Artwork
Still Life with Fruit and a Herring
Still Life with Fruit and a Herring is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Pauwel Gillemans the Elder. It dates from 1656 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Still Life with Fruit and a Herring is a 17th-century oil painting by Jan Pauwel Gillemans the Elder, a Flemish artist known for his still lifes.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a colorful arrangement of fruit, including grapes, peaches, and cherries, alongside a herring on a plate, set against a dark background. The composition is characteristic of Gillemans' genre-focused work, blending elements of abundance and potentially, vanitas themes.
Technique & Style
Gillemans employed chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark, to create depth and highlight the subjects. The use of light and shadow makes the food items stand out, contributing to an overall effect of freshness and abundance.
History & Provenance
Created around 1656, the painting is now held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. It exemplifies the Flemish Baroque tradition, within which Gillemans worked.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Pauwel Gillemans the Elder
Jan Pauwel Gillemans the Elder (Antwerp, 1618 - Antwerp, 1675) was a Flemish goldsmith and still life painter who is known for his fruit still lifes, flower pieces, vanitas still lifes and pronkstillevens.
