Artwork
Still life
Still life is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Maximilian Pfeiler. It dates from 1701 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1701, this oil painting by Maximilian Pfeiler is part of the collection at Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. It presents a densely arranged interior scene in which a table is laden with sumptuous textiles, a vase of flowers, and assorted small objects, while a violin‑playing woman and a cat occupy the surrounding space.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes symbols of wealth and domesticity: richly patterned fabrics and lace suggest luxury, the musical performance hints at cultured leisure, and the cat introduces a touch of everyday life. Together they convey a snapshot of an affluent household where art, music, and comfort coexist.
Technique & Style
Pfeiler employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, setting the illuminated textiles and objects against a deep, muted background. The contrast heightens the texture of the fabrics and the sheen of the vase, while the soft modeling of the figures and the cat demonstrates a careful handling of light to create depth within a relatively compact space.
History & Provenance
Since its completion in the early eighteenth century, the work has remained in German collections, eventually entering the holdings of the Alte Pinakothek. Its presence in this historic museum situates it among other Baroque still lifes, illustrating the period’s interest in detailed, narrative-rich interior scenes.
Artist & collection
Still-life
Woman singing and man playing a lute in a window
Stillleben
Stillleben (?)
Karneval
Allegorie auf die Mildtätigkeit
A Cook and a Kitchen Maid with the Provisions of the Kitchen
Früchtestück
Young Woman playing the Violin
Stilleben mit Musikinstrumenten, Notenblättern, Himmelsglobus und Muschel
Mohrenknabe mit Schimmel