Artwork
Still-life
Still-life is an oil painting by the Realist artist Édouard Manet. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Overview
Édouard Manet’s oil painting, dated around 1867, presents a modest still‑life arrangement. The composition is set on a simple table against a plain wall with a white baseboard, and it is part of the collection of the Scottish National Gallery.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the work lies a deep‑black hat, rendered in stark contrast to the lighter surroundings. Adjacent to it are a dark bottle, an open book, and a modest bouquet of flowers whose muted colours provide a subtle visual lift, suggesting a quiet domestic moment.
Technique & Style
Manet employs a limited palette, allowing the dark hat to dominate the visual field while the surrounding objects are defined with loose, yet precise brushwork. The handling of light on the white baseboard and wall creates a sense of depth without elaborate background detail, characteristic of his mature still‑life approach.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1860s, the painting entered the Scottish National Gallery’s holdings in the early twentieth century, where it has remained on public display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in representing French realist and early modernist works.
Artist & collection
Artist
Édouard Manet was a French modernist painter. He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, as well as a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
