Who painted Weintrauben mit drei Trauben und Schmetterlingen?

Weintrauben mit drei Trauben und Schmetterlingen was painted by Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton in 1714.

Where can I see Weintrauben mit drei Trauben und Schmetterlingen?

Weintrauben mit drei Trauben und Schmetterlingen is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Artwork

Weintrauben mit drei Trauben und Schmetterlingen

Weintrauben mit drei Trauben und Schmetterlingen is an unspecified painting by Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton. It dates from 1714 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Philipp Ferdinand de Hamilton, an 18th‑century painter of Southern Netherlandish origin active in Austria, produced the still‑life titled *Weintrauben mit drei Trauben und Schmetterlingen* circa 1714. The work is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection and exemplifies the period’s interest in detailed natural subjects.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a cluster of grapes rendered in varying hues—white, red and purple—accompanied by foliage and a few butterflies. The insects, with white wings marked by brown spots, hover near the fruit, creating a subtle dialogue between the fleeting and the cultivated.

Technique & Style

Hamilton employs a dark, almost tenebristic background that heightens the luminosity of the grapes, giving them a polished, ripe appearance. The leaves show a slight wilt, adding texture, while the fine brushwork on the butterflies captures delicate wing patterns.

History & Provenance

Created around 1714, the painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, remaining there as a representative example of Hamilton’s oeuvre and of Austrian still‑life painting of the early 18th century.

Context

The work aligns with the broader still‑life tradition flourishing in the Southern Netherlands and Austria, where artists such as Willem Kalf and Jan Davidsz de Heem explored similar themes of abundance, texture, and the transience suggested by insects among fruit.