Artwork
Still Life with weaponry and banner in a landscape
Still Life with weaponry and banner in a landscape is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Baptist Tijssens the Younger. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Jan Baptist Tijssens the Younger, a Flemish artist active in the late 17th century, painted Still Life with Weaponry and Banner in a Landscape in 1696. Executed in oil on canvas, the work combines elements of still life and landscape typical of the Dutch Golden Age. It is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a fallen soldier’s armor and helmet, draped with a torn banner that hangs limp across the ground. Scattered weapons and the ragged flag evoke the aftermath of conflict, suggesting defeat or the cessation of battle. Distant figures on horseback and a storm‑filled sky reinforce the narrative of a battlefield scene.
Technique & Style
Tijssens employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with bright highlights that make the metal armor and fabric gleam. The dramatic lighting creates a sense of depth, while the rugged, rocky terrain in the background is rendered with loose, atmospheric brushwork, characteristic of late‑Baroque landscape treatment.
History & Provenance
Created in 1696, the painting entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. Tijssens, also known for his work as an art dealer, produced a limited number of works that blend genre scenes with still‑life detail, making this piece a notable example of his oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Baptist Tijssens the Younger
Jan Baptist Tijssens the Younger (1660–1723) was a Flemish painter mainly known for his 'guardroom scenes' and still lifes. He was also active as an art dealer.
