Who painted Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries?

Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries was painted by Jan Jansz van de Velde in 1658.

Where can I see Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries?

Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries is held by Ashmolean Museum.

What movement is Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries?

Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries by Jan Jansz van de Velde (1658)

About this work

Technique & Style

The work demonstrates the artist's focus on rendering diverse textures, from the delicate surfaces of the glass and ceramic to the organic forms of the fruit.

Executed in 1658, this still life is an oil painting on a wooden panel measuring 38 by 30 cm. The composition features a meticulous arrangement of fruit, specifically strawberries and cherries, alongside luxury tableware including Kraak porcelain and Venetian-style glassware (façon de Venise). A spoon is also depicted within the assembly of objects. The work demonstrates the artist's focus on rendering diverse textures, from the delicate surfaces of the glass and ceramic to the organic forms of the fruit.

History & Provenance

Jan Jansz van de Velde created the oil-on-panel painting Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries in 1658. The work measures 38 cm in height by 30 cm in width. It was part of the collection of Daisy Linda Ward and Theodore William Holzapfel Ward before entering the Ashmolean Museum.

The museum acquired the piece in 1939 through a bequest from Daisy Linda Ward, assigning it the accession number WA1940.2.85.

The painting is held by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, where it is recorded under the accession number WA1940.2.85. It measures 38 by 30 cm and is executed in oil on panel.

The work entered the museum through the bequest of Daisy Linda Ward in 1939. Prior to that, it had been owned jointly by Daisy Linda Ward and Theodore William Holzapfel Ward, from whose collection it passed to the institution.

No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.

Context

The painting was created by Jan Jansz van de Velde in 1658 and depicts a still life featuring strawberries, cherries, Kraak porcelain, and a spoon. It is executed in oil paint on panel, measuring 38 x 30 cm, and is housed in the Ashmolean Museum. The work entered the collection through the bequest of Daisy Linda Ward in 1939.

Its provenance includes ownership by Daisy Linda Ward and Theodore William Holzapfel Ward prior to acquisition by the museum. The artwork is cataloged in Art UK with accession number WA1940.2.85 and is subject to a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence for non-commercial reuse, requiring proper attribution to the artist and rights holders.

Legacy

The painting's presence in a major public collection and its continued scholarly citation have contributed to a modest but recognized influence on later still-life compositions, particularly in the representation of Dutch domestic abundance. Its detailed rendering of Kraak porcelain and fruit has been referenced in studies of 17th-century Dutch material culture and in exhibitions exploring the evolution of the genre. The work's attribution to Jan Jansz van de Velde has ensured its inclusion in surveys of Dutch Golden Age painting, reinforcing the artist's reputation as a specialist in fruit and flower still lifes.

The painting's acquisition by the Ashmolean Museum through bequest has preserved its accessibility for research and public display, supporting ongoing academic discussion of its compositional techniques.

Overview

Still Life with Strawberries and Cherries is an oil painting created by Jan Jansz van de Velde in 1658. It is a still life composition held at the Ashmolean Museum.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a table setting with a white porcelain bowl containing strawberries and cherries, accompanied by a silver spoon, a partly filled wine glass, and loose cherries and leaves. The arrangement conveys a sense of serenity and intimacy.