Who painted Still-ife with lobster?

Still-ife with lobster was painted by Simon Luttichuys in 1655.

Where can I see Still-ife with lobster?

Still-ife with lobster is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is Still-ife with lobster?

Still-ife with lobster is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Still-ife with lobster?

Museum-quality prints of Still-ife with lobster are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Still-ife with lobster

Simon Luttichuys , 1655

Still-ife with lobster is a paint painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Simon Luttichuys. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Overview

Simon Luttichuys painted Still‑life with Lobster in 1655, a composition now in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. The work arranges a vivid red lobster, a white‑clothed table, a decorative white jug, a half‑filled wine glass, and a few bread rolls against a deep, shadowed backdrop, creating a focused still‑life scene typical of mid‑seventeenth‑century Dutch art.

Subject & Meaning

The central element is a freshly cooked lobster, rendered in bright scarlet tones, suggesting abundance and the luxury of exotic seafood. Accompanying objects—a floral‑patterned jug, a wine glass, and modest bread—balance the sumptuous with the everyday, inviting contemplation of material wealth, hospitality, and the transitory nature of a meal.

Technique & Style

Luttichuys employs a strong chiaroscuro effect, illuminating the objects with a crisp, directional light while the surrounding space recedes into darkness. The precise rendering of textures—the glossy shell, the smooth ceramic, the liquid in the glass—demonstrates his meticulous brushwork and a keen interest in the visual contrast between flesh, metal, and fabric.

History & Provenance

Created in the Dutch Golden Age, the painting entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to private Dutch collections before being acquired by the museum in the early twentieth century, reflecting the continued scholarly interest in Luttichuys’s still‑life oeuvre.