Artwork
Stillleben mit Früchten
Stillleben mit Früchten is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Maximilian Pfeiler. It dates from 1701 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1701 by German painter Maximilian Pfeler, this oil on canvas still‑life is part of the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1701 by German painter Maximilian Pfeler, this oil on canvas still‑life is part of the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. The work presents a richly laden plate that overflows with dark grapes, a bright lemon and its peeled skin, all arranged to suggest abundance and vitality.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a metal plate brimming with clusters of grapes, some spilling beyond its rim, accompanied by a lemon and a curled strip of its peel. The juxtaposition of deep‑purple fruit with the lemon’s vivid yellow conveys themes of fertility, plenty, and the sensory pleasures of the table.
Technique & Style
Pfeiler employs a careful handling of light to model the glossy surfaces of the grapes and the reflective metal edge of the plate. Subtle variations in tone differentiate the darker bunches from lighter ones on the left, while the lemon’s texture is rendered with delicate brushwork that captures both flesh and rind.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings as part of its early‑modern European collection, reflecting the museum’s focus on German Baroque art. Its attribution to Maximilian Pfeiler, a relatively obscure court painter of the early 18th century, is supported by stylistic analysis and archival records linking the work to his workshop.
Artist & collection
