Artwork
Still-Life with Fruit
Still-Life with Fruit is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan van Kessel the Elder. It is held in the collection of the Norton Simon Museum.
About this work
Overview
Still-Life with Fruit, painted in 1700, is an oil on canvas work by Jan van Kessel the Elder, a versatile Flemish Baroque painter from Antwerp.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a simple, elegant arrangement of fruit and a walnut on a scalloped white plate, set against a black background on a red tablecloth, emphasizing realism and everyday luxury.
Technique & Style
Kessel employed meticulous detail and oil paint to achieve a highly realistic portrayal of textures and colors, reflecting the influence of earlier Flemish still-life traditions.
History & Provenance
Created in 1700, the work is now part of the Norton Simon Museum's collection, though its history between creation and acquisition is not detailed here.
Context
This piece sits within the broader Flemish Baroque movement, drawing on the artistic legacies of Kessel's predecessors, including his grandfather Jan Brueghel the Elder.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Kessel the Elder or Jan van Kessel (I) (baptized 5 April 1626, Antwerp – 17 April 1679, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the mid-17th century.
