Artwork

Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet

Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet, by Hubert van Ravesteyn, oil, 1664
Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet, by Hubert van Ravesteyn, oil, 1664

Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Hubert van Ravesteyn. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

It depicts a glass, a flask, a pipe, a tobacco packet, a stoneware jug with a handle, a match, and a square ceramic bowl arranged on a tabletop.

The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel, measuring 43 cm high by 35 cm wide. The support is a prepared panel, typical of seventeenth-century Dutch works. It depicts a glass, a flask, a pipe, a tobacco packet, a stoneware jug with a handle, a match, and a square ceramic bowl arranged on a tabletop. As a still life, the composition brings together glassware, metal, ceramic, and organic materials.

History & Provenance

Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet was painted in 1664 by Hubert van Ravesteyn, in oil on panel, measuring 43 × 35 cm. It was owned by Jean Philippe Rudolph Marie de Nerée tot Babberich and subsequently by Harold Samuel, Baron Samuel of Wych Cross. Bequeathed by Lord Samuel in 1987, it is now held by the Guildhall Art Gallery, London, as part of the Samuel collection, under accession number 3755. The available sources record no loan or special exhibition history.

Overview

Hubert van Ravesteyn's 1664 oil painting, Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet, exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age tradition of depicting common household items. This work showcases a collection of everyday objects arranged on a dark surface, rendered with a characteristic brownish palette. It is currently part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The composition features a selection of humble, domestic items, including a prominent patterned flask, a small orange cup, a clay pipe, and a packet of tobacco, all resting on a dark table. A metal tray holds some of these elements, while a single matchstick lies nearby. The arrangement emphasizes the transient nature of daily life through these familiar, unpretentious possessions.

Context

Created during the Dutch Golden Age, a period renowned for its rich artistic output, this painting aligns with the era's appreciation for genre scenes and still life. While Hubert van Ravesteyn is also recognized for his depictions of interiors and cattle, this work illustrates his contribution to the popular still life genre, reflecting the period's interest in domesticity and material culture.

Still Life with Smoking Paraphernalia
Still Life with Smoking Paraphernalia, Jan Jansz van de Velde

Artist & collection

Artist

Hubert van Ravesteyn

Hubert van Ravesteyn was a Dutch painter of interiors and cattle, the son of Herman van Ravesteyn.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

Continue through works from the same source collection.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet?

Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet was painted by Hubert van Ravesteyn in 1664-01-01.

Where can I see Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet?

Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet?

Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet is associated with Dutch Golden Age.