Open full image Pin

Still Life with a Snake

Elias van den Broeck

1690

oil

canvas

From the collection of Ashmolean Museum

Still Life

Dominant colour

Still Life with a Snake is a 1690 oil by Elias van den Broeck, held at Ashmolean Museum.

Who painted this?: Elias van den Broeck
When & what style?: 1690
Where can I see it?: Ashmolean Museum

About this work

This painting is a still life with a snake, featuring a variety of plants, insects, and small animals. The scene is set against a dark background, with the snake coiled around a plant stem. The plants are depicted in various shades of green, with some having white or yellow flowers. Insects such as butterflies, bees, and grasshoppers are scattered throughout the painting, adding to the sense of life and movement. One interesting detail in the painting is the way the light falls on the snake's scales, creating a sense of texture and depth. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume, adds to the overall effect of the painting. If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to explore the technique of chiaroscuro.

About the artist

Artist

Elias van den Broeck

Elias van den Broeck (c. 1652 in probably in Amsterdam – buried 6 February 1708 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch still life painter mainly known for his flower pieces. He trained in the Dutch Republic and worked for some time…

See the richer artist page