Artwork
Nature morte med hummer og citron
Nature morte med hummer og citron is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Lambert van Haven. It dates from 1667 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1667, this still‑life painting by Lambert van Haven depicts a modest banquet arranged on a darkened tabletop. A lobster rests on its side, a basket of oysters, a lemon, a cluster of grapes, a small snail, and a metal pitcher complete the composition. The objects emerge from deep shadows, their forms rendered with a tactile realism that invites close inspection.
Subject & Meaning
The work gathers perishable foods and humble sea creatures, a common motif in 17th‑century Northern European still lifes that alludes to the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures. The inclusion of both luxury items, such as the lobster, and modest fare, like the snail, may suggest a meditation on abundance, consumption, and the transience of material wealth.
Technique & Style
Van Haven employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting bright illumination on the fruit and shellfish with a somber, almost black background.
Van Haven employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting bright illumination on the fruit and shellfish with a somber, almost black background. This handling of light creates a three‑dimensional effect, allowing textures—glossy shells, the rough snail shell, the polished metal pitcher—to appear almost palpable. The brushwork is precise, emphasizing the reflective surfaces and the subtle gradations of shadow.
History & Provenance
The painting has been part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst since its acquisition, though the exact date of purchase is not recorded in the available sources. Its attribution to Lambert van Haven, better known as an architect, reflects the artist’s occasional forays into genre painting during the mid‑17th century.
Context
Executed during the Baroque period, the piece aligns with contemporary Dutch and Flemish still‑life traditions that favored dramatic lighting and detailed rendering of foodstuffs. While van Haven is primarily recognized for his architectural contributions, this work demonstrates his engagement with the broader visual culture of his time, where the study of light and materiality was paramount.
Artist & collection
Artist
A Danish painter working in the late 1600s, Lambert van Haven made grand ceiling designs and still lifes in oil.
