Who painted Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa)?

Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa) was painted by Jan Davidsz. de Heem in 1601-01-01.

Where can I see Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa)?

Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa) is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa)?

Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa) is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa)?

Museum-quality prints of Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa)

Jan Davidsz. de Heem , 1601

Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Davidsz. de Heem. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Jan Davidsz.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows a wooden tabletop bearing a few scattered items: a silver platter, a lemon, a slice of bread and a pocket watch. These objects carry moral symbolism, referencing the transience of wealth and the inevitability of death. The watch, visible in the composition, underscores the theme of time passing. The work is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display.

Technique & Style

De Heem’s handling is characterized by meticulous layering and glazing, producing a luminous depth and tactile realism in the depiction of glassware and metal.

The painting is executed in oil on oak panel, a common support among Northern European still-life artists of the period. De Heem’s handling is characterized by meticulous layering and glazing, producing a luminous depth and tactile realism in the depiction of glassware and metal. The composition arranges everyday objects, including a pocket watch and fruit, along a diagonally tilted wooden table, creating a dynamic spatial recession.

The color palette favors rich, saturated hues with subtle harmonies, while the light source is softly diffused, heightening the illusion of three-dimensional form. The oak panel’s grain is subtly integrated into the composition, contributing to the work’s overall textural unity.

History & Provenance

The painting Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa) was created by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, though sources present conflicting dates for its inception. One record lists the work as originating in 1601, while another cites a date of 1650. The artwork is executed in oil paint on an oak panel and depicts a table setting that includes a pocket watch and a salt cellar.

It is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is identified by the inventory number P002090. The dimensions of the panel are recorded as 49 cm in height and 64 cm in width.

Still Life on a Wooden Table is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The institution identifies the work with the inventory number P002090. Executed on an oak panel measuring 49 by 64 cm, the painting depicts a table setting featuring a pocket watch and various vessels.

While internal records and catalog descriptions associate the piece with the year 1601, other data points suggest an inception around 1650. The available sources confirm the artwork's location and accession details but do not list specific past exhibitions or loan history.

Legacy

The painting's enduring reputation stems from its masterful composition and technical precision, particularly its integration of symbolic objects such as a pocket watch and depictions of salads, which exemplify the elaborate still-life tradition of the Dutch Golden Age. Its inclusion in the Museo del Prado's collection has ensured continued scholarly attention and public display, cementing its status as a benchmark for later still-life artists who emulated its complex layering and realistic rendering. The work's influence is evident in the way subsequent painters adopted its compositional strategies and attention to texture, though direct documentation of specific artistic lineages remains sparse.

Overview

Jan Davidsz. de Heem’s Still Life on a Wooden Table (Mesa), executed in oil in 1601, exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with meticulously rendered domestic arrangements. The composition centers on a wooden tabletop crowded with fruit, metal vessels, and a small pocket watch, all illuminated by a subtle, naturalistic light source.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jan Davidsz. de Heem

Maria van Oosterwijck (1630–1693), also spelled Oosterwyck, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, specialising in richly detailed flower paintings and other still lifes.