Who painted Still Life with Fruit and Game?

Still Life with Fruit and Game was painted by Jan Fyt in 1643.

Where can I see Still Life with Fruit and Game?

Still Life with Fruit and Game is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Still Life with Fruit and Game?

Still Life with Fruit and Game is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Still Life with Fruit and Game

Jan Fyt , 1643

Still Life with Fruit and Game is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Fyt. It dates from 1643 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1643, this oil painting presents a densely arranged still life that juxtaposes ripe fruit with freshly hunted game.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting presents a lavish arrangement of fresh fruit and game birds on a tabletop, emphasizing abundance and the fleeting nature of material wealth.

The painting presents a lavish arrangement of fresh fruit and game birds on a tabletop, emphasizing abundance and the fleeting nature of material wealth. Symbolic elements such as the peeled lemon and the dead birds allude to themes of transience, mortality, and the pleasures of the senses. The composition reflects the Dutch still‑life tradition of the mid‑17th century, where meticulous detail served both as a display of artistic skill and as moral commentary on consumption. The work measures 910 cm by 1190 cm and is executed in oil on canvas.

The still‑life genre in this piece functions as a visual allegory, juxtaposing ripe fruit with hunted game to explore the tension between indulgence and the inevitable passage of time. By incorporating objects associated with luxury and mortality, the painting invites viewers to contemplate the impermanence of worldly pleasures, aligning with the broader symbolic language of Flemish still‑life painting during the period.

The work is housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the museum’s European paintings display.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1643, this still life by Jan Fyt is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 91 cm in height and 119 cm in width. As a representative example of the genre, the composition features fruit as its primary subject matter, rendered with the material richness characteristic of Fyt's approach to naturalistic depiction.

History & Provenance

The painting Still Life with Fruit and Game was created in 1643 by Jan Fyt, as documented in its catalog record and Wikidata entry. It is an oil paint on canvas work measuring 1190.0 cm in width and 910.0 cm in height. The artwork is part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is recorded under the genre of still life.

The inception date is listed as 1643-01-01, confirming its creation year. This information is drawn from the artwork's provenance details in the source materials.

The painting is held by Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, where it is recorded as accession number KMSsp711.

It was exhibited at Statens Museum for Kunst in 2014 as part of the display “Jan Fyt – Still Life with Fruit and Game.”

Overview

Created in 1643, this oil painting presents a densely arranged still life that juxtaposes ripe fruit with freshly hunted game. A bird hangs inverted from a chair, while a basket overflows with grapes, pears, and other produce, all set against a darkened backdrop that hints at a shadowy interior space. The composition reflects the meticulous observation characteristic of mid‑17th‑century Flemish still‑life painting.

Context

Fyt’s oeuvre belongs to a broader Flemish tradition that celebrated lavish banquet tables and hunting trophies, reflecting the wealth of the region’s merchant class. His compositions often feature dramatic lighting and intricate arrangements, aligning with the Baroque emphasis on sensory richness and the moralizing potential of still‑life subjects.