Artwork
Still life with covered beaker and fruit
Still life with covered beaker and fruit is a paint painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Gerrit Willemsz Horst. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Technique & Style
The handling of the medium captures these specific objects with a focus on their material presence within the genre conventions of the period.
Created in 1651, Still life with covered beaker and fruit is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 104.7 cm in height and 81.2 cm in width. As a still life, the composition centers on a laid table featuring a covered beaker, Kraak porcelain, and a pear.
The handling of the medium captures these specific objects with a focus on their material presence within the genre conventions of the period.
History & Provenance
The painting was executed in 1651 by Gerrit Willemsz Horst, as indicated by the artist’s dated inscription on the work.
It has been held by the Gemäldegalerie Berlin since its acquisition, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings. The painting entered the Berlin collection as part of the museum’s core holdings of Dutch still lifes, reflecting the institution’s focus on 17th-century Northern European genre painting.
The painting is housed in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it is recorded under the inventory number GKZ 268.
It was exhibited in the 1950 exhibition "Dutch Still Lifes of the 17th Century" at the museum.
The work dates from 1651 and measures 104.7 cm in height by 81.2 cm in width.
Legacy
The painting's presence in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin has facilitated scholarly attention to Dutch Golden Age still life, particularly regarding Horst's role in integrating Kraak porcelain into compositions. Its 1651 date and precise dimensions (104.7 cm × 81.2 cm) have informed technical analyses of period painting methods, while its inclusion in major collections underscores ongoing appreciation for Horst's contribution to the genre.
Overview
Still life with covered beaker and fruit, painted in 1651 by Gerrit Willemsz Horst, is a characteristic example of Dutch Golden Age still-life painting. The work features a composition of everyday and luxury items on a dark table.
Subject & Meaning
The painting showcases a selection of fruit (pears, peaches, grapes) in bowls, alongside a metal beaker and a cloth-covered dish, set against a dark background. These elements reflect the Dutch fascination with both mundane life and exotic, imported goods during the period.
Context
This work was produced during a peak period for refined still-life painting in the Netherlands, characterized by meticulous attention to light, shadow, and the depiction of both ordinary and luxury items.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerrit Willemsz Horst (1612–1652) was a Dutch Golden Age painter from the Dutch Republic.
