Artwork
Still life of a table with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish
Still life of a table with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Alexander Adriaenssen. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition reflects the genre’s interest in the careful depiction of ordinary foodstuffs, suggesting abundance and the material comforts of domestic life.
The painting shows a richly laid table bearing crockery, cheese, sausage and fish, alongside bread, a bowl and a kitchen utensil. These items are rendered in oil on panel, a format typical of early‑17th‑century Flemish still lifes. The composition reflects the genre’s interest in the careful depiction of ordinary foodstuffs, suggesting abundance and the material comforts of domestic life.
It was created in 1601 by Alexander Adriaenssen and later entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it was held by King Ferdinand VII of Spain.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel, a technique typical of early‑17th‑century Flemish still‑life practice. Measuring 60 cm in height and 91 cm in width and dated 1601, it portrays a table set with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish, rendered with careful attention to texture and composition. The work belongs to the collection of Ferdinand VII of Spain and is presently displayed at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Its formal qualities include a balanced arrangement of objects, a muted palette, and a realistic rendering of materials such as wood, ceramic and meat.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1601 by Alexander Adriaenssen, the work is an oil on panel still life measuring 60 cm by 91 cm and shows a table laden with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish.
It was recorded as owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain, indicating early royal ownership.
The painting later entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display as part of the museum's holdings.
The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It is catalogued as an oil-on-panel work measuring 60 by 91 cm, dated 1601, and was formerly owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain before entering the museum's holdings.
No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Alexander Adriaenssen, a 17th-century Flemish Baroque artist, created this oil painting titled Still life of a table with crockery, cheese, sausage and fish in 1601. The work exemplifies the still life genre, a specialty of Adriaenssen, and features a humble yet detailed arrangement of common foodstuffs and domestic items. It is currently housed in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Context
As a painter active during the Dutch Golden Age, Alexander Adriaenssen frequently dedicated his practice to still life compositions, often incorporating fish and elaborate banquet scenes. This particular work, dating from 1601, aligns with his established specialization in depicting food and game, showcasing his skill within a popular and evolving genre of the time.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Alexander Adriaenssen (1587–1661) was a Flemish Baroque painter, particularly known for his still-lifes of fish and game pieces. He also painted banquet pieces with food and flower still lifes.
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