Artwork
Still Life
Still Life is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Nason. It dates from 1675 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1675, this oil painting presents a modest arrangement of domestic objects rendered with careful attention to light and texture.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1675, this oil painting presents a modest arrangement of domestic objects rendered with careful attention to light and texture. A covered vessel, assorted fruit, a single rose, and a dark tablecloth occupy the composition against an almost black backdrop, inviting the viewer to consider the quiet dignity of everyday items.
Subject & Meaning
The work exemplifies the Dutch still‑life tradition, where ordinary objects serve as symbols of transience and abundance. The covered beaker suggests concealment or potential, while the fresh fruit and blooming rose hint at the fleeting nature of life’s pleasures, all set within a restrained, contemplative setting.
Technique & Style
Employing chiaroscuro, the artist contrasts luminous surfaces with deep shadows, allowing the polished metal of the beaker and the vivid hues of the fruit to emerge from the dark field. The handling of oil paint achieves a tactile quality, emphasizing the sheen of glass, the softness of petals, and the texture of the cloth.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced by Pieter Nason, a Hague‑based painter linked to the local Guild of Painters and a founder of the Pictura Society in 1656. It entered the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of Dutch Golden Age art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Nason (bapt. 16 February 1612, Amsterdam - 1688/90, The Hague) was a Dutch painter. He became a member of the Guild of Painters of The Hague in 1639, and in 1656 was one of the forty seven members who established…
