Still life with fruit and a finch drawing water

Abraham Mignon executed this still life in 1660. The work, painted in oil on canvas, measures 78 cm in height and 67 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the painting was once part of the collections owned by Jan Gildemeester and Gerrit van der Pot.

Currently, the artwork is held by the Musée de la Chartreuse in Douai, France, where it is cataloged under the inventory number D.1962.1.2. It was previously recorded under the older inventory reference D.962.2.

The painting is part of the collection at the Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai, where it is recorded under inventory numbers D.1962.1.2 and D.962.2. It was previously owned by Jan Gildemeester and Gerrit van der Pot. The work has been exhibited as part of the museum's holdings, reflecting its significance within the still life genre.

The painting demonstrates Mignon's specialization in detailed fruit still lifes within the Dutch Baroque tradition, reflecting the era's fascination with botanical precision and symbolic abundance. Its provenance through private collectors like Jan Gildemeester and Gerrit van der Pot, followed by acquisition by public institutions including the Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai, underscores its significance within European art historical narratives. The work's presence in both French and Dutch collections highlights transnational artistic exchange during the 17th century, positioning it within broader scholarly discussions of still-life painting's evolution beyond mere decoration into complex visual commentary.

The painting's presence in a French museum collection and its inclusion in major institutional inventories have contributed to scholarly recognition of Mignon's role in Dutch still-life development. Its attribution to Mignon and dating to 1660 are established through archival records and museum documentation, supporting its reputation as an example of 17th-century fruit and animal symbolism. The work's provenance from private collectors to public museum holdings reflects broader patterns of art preservation and attribution refinement in European art history.

The painting is held by the Musée de la Chartreuse de Douai and is cataloged in both the Joconde database and the Rijksmuseum's collection records.

Abraham Mignon, a mid‑17th‑century Dutch painter based in Utrecht, executed this oil on canvas in 1660. The work exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with still‑life subjects, presenting a carefully arranged banquet scene that includes fruit, a lobster, and a small bird. The composition is set against a dark background, allowing the vivid colors of the objects to dominate the visual field.