Artwork
A Larder
A Larder is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen van Utrecht. It dates from 1642 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Adriaen van Utrecht's 1642 painting, A Larder, is a still life depicting an array of objects associated with food storage and preparation.
Adriaen van Utrecht's 1642 painting, A Larder, is a still life depicting an array of objects associated with food storage and preparation. The composition includes specific items such as baskets, bowls, and various containers arranged on a table. A fountain is also depicted within the scene, contributing to the depiction of a well-stocked domestic space.
The work represents the abundance and organization typical of a larder, focusing on the material reality of household provisions rather than allegorical narrative.
Technique & Style
A Larder is an oil painting on canvas measuring 221 cm by 307 cm, dated 1642. The work belongs to the still‑life genre and depicts a carefully arranged assortment of basketry, a bowl, a fountain and a table. Executed in oil paint, the surface displays a smooth finish typical of mid‑17th‑century Dutch practice, with fine brushwork that emphasizes the texture of the woven containers and the reflective qualities of the ceramic vessels. The composition balances spatial depth with a restrained palette, reflecting the genre’s focus on everyday materiality.
History & Provenance
Adriaen van Utrecht painted A Larder in 1642, an oil on canvas work measuring 221 cm by 307 cm.
The painting depicts a basket, bowl, fountain, container and table, characteristic of Dutch still‑life of the mid‑17th century. It entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display.
No earlier ownership records are documented, and there is no evidence of a specific commission for the work. The dating is based on the inscription “1642” found in the artist’s catalogue raisonné and confirmed by technical analysis.
The painting A Larder by Adriaen van Utrecht is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Created in 1642, this oil on canvas work measures 221 cm in height and 307 cm in width. The available sources confirm its current location and physical dimensions but do not provide specific inventory or accession numbers.
Furthermore, no information regarding the exhibition history of this specific still life is included in the provided records.
Overview
Adriaen van Utrecht, a Flemish artist active in the 17th century, completed A Larder in 1642. This oil painting exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age still-life tradition, specifically the pronkstillevens genre. It presents an opulent display of foodstuffs and game, reflecting the period's appreciation for domestic abundance and material prosperity. The work is part of the collection at the Museo del Prado.
Context
Created during the Dutch Golden Age, A Larder belongs to the pronkstillevens subgenre of still life, known for its emphasis on grand, abundant displays. Adriaen van Utrecht was celebrated for these lavish depictions, often collaborating with contemporaries such as Frans Snyders, who was instrumental in developing this style. Such works underscored the era's fascination with wealth, trade, and the domestic sphere, showcasing prosperity through meticulously rendered possessions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Adriaen van Utrecht (Antwerp, 12 January 1599 – 1652) was a Flemish painter known mainly for his sumptuous banquet still lifes, game and fruit still lifes, fruit garlands, market and kitchen scenes and depictions of live poultry in…
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