Artwork
Still Life with Quinces, Medlars and a Glass
Still Life with Quinces, Medlars and a Glass is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Martinus Nellius. It dates from 1698 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1698, this oil painting by Martinus Nellius presents a compact still‑life arrangement on a darkened surface.
Created in 1698, this oil painting by Martinus Nellius presents a compact still‑life arrangement on a darkened surface. Central to the composition are a luminous yellow quince, a cluster of small red medlars, and a few plums accompanied by green foliage, alongside scattered nuts and a reflective glass vessel. A faint, indistinct human figure appears at the lower edge, while the background is rendered in deep black, intensifying the visual impact of the fruit’s colors.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes ripe, varied fruit with modest kitchen objects, inviting contemplation of abundance and transience. The inclusion of a barely visible figure suggests a fleeting presence, perhaps alluding to the fleeting nature of sensory pleasures. By placing the fruit against an almost void backdrop, Nellius emphasizes their materiality and the fleeting moment of their display.
Technique & Style
Nellius employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using a single, focused light source to model the surfaces of each object. The smooth, glossy skin of the quince catches highlights, while the medlars display a coarser texture, achieved through delicate brushwork. The glass is rendered with reflective glints, and the deep black background absorbs stray light, allowing the illuminated forms to appear three‑dimensional and tactile.
History & Provenance
The painting has been part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it is displayed as an example of late‑17th‑century Dutch still‑life painting. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s workshop in the Netherlands, reflecting the period’s interest in detailed, realistic depictions of everyday objects and the technical mastery of oil painting.
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