1662
oil
copper
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
Decorative Still-Life Composition with a Basket of Fruit is a 1662 oil by Jan van Kessel the Elder, a Dutch Golden Age work, held at Ashmolean Museum.
This painting shows a basket overflowing with fruit and flowers. The basket sits on a table, surrounded by leaves and vines. The fruit includes pomegranates, grapes, and plums, while the flowers are red, white, and pink. The flowers and leaves spill out of the basket and onto the table, creating a sense of abundance and lushness. The colors are rich and vibrant, with deep reds and greens dominating the palette. The painting's use of color and composition creates a sense of energy and movement, drawing the viewer's eye around the image. To learn more about the artist's use of light and shadow, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
Jan van Kessel the Elder or Jan van Kessel (I) (baptized 5 April 1626, Antwerp – 17 April 1679, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the mid-17th century.
See the richer artist page
