Artwork
Still life with glass, flask, pipe and tobacco packet

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
















