Artwork
Medallion's Frame with an Allegorical Depiction of the Four Elements
Medallion's Frame with an Allegorical Depiction of the Four Elements is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan van Kessel the Elder. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Air is indicated by a bird in flight, Fire by a flame-like arrangement among the fruits, and Water by marine life including fish.
The painting presents an allegorical arrangement of the classical Four Elements, earth, air, fire, and water, each represented by emblematic flora, fauna, and objects. Earth is signified by a rose and grapes, symbols of fertility and abundance. Air is indicated by a bird in flight, Fire by a flame-like arrangement among the fruits, and Water by marine life including fish. These motifs are organized around a central medallion, uniting the elements within a single decorative scheme.
The composition reflects the Flemish tradition of allegorical still life, where natural elements are combined to evoke cosmic harmony and the interconnectedness of creation.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on copper measuring 28.5 cm high by 28.2 cm wide. Jan van Kessel the Elder rendered the allegorical scene in oil paint applied to the copper plate. The composition presents a personification of the four elements through a fish, a rose, a bunch of grapes and a bird, fitting the allegorical genre noted in the catalogue.
History & Provenance
Jan van Kessel the Elder created the medallion frame with an allegorical depiction of the four elements in 1664, working in Flanders on a copper support. The painting was subsequently held in the collection of Alexander Mikhailovich Golitsyn. It later entered the Hermitage Museum, where it remains held today.
The work was produced in 1664 as an oil on copper allegory centered on the classical elements.
Overview
Created in 1664, Jan van Kessel the Elder’s copper painting titled Medallion’s Frame with an Allegorical Depiction of the Four Elements presents a compact, oval composition framed by a dark border. The work combines painted and seemingly three‑dimensional objects, arranging a variety of natural motifs within and around the medallion to form a dense visual tableau.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
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