Artwork
Still life
Still life is an oil painting by Johann Friedrich Gruber. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition includes a lute, cittern, cello, violin, bagpipe, trumpet, flute, and sheet music, alongside grapes, lemon, melon, apple, and pear.
Johann Friedrich Gruber’s 1661 oil painting Still life depicts a varied assortment of musical instruments and fruit. The composition includes a lute, cittern, cello, violin, bagpipe, trumpet, flute, and sheet music, alongside grapes, lemon, melon, apple, and pear. This grouping of instruments and produce constitutes the work’s subject and iconography.
While the sources identify the depicted items, they do not specify any explicit symbolic meaning or interpretive message for the piece.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1661 by Johann Friedrich Gruber, this still life is an oil painting created on a canvas support. The work measures 153 centimeters in height and 166 centimeters in width. Visually, the composition features a dense arrangement of musical instruments, including a lute, cittern, cello, violin, bagpipe, trumpet, and flute, alongside sheet music.
These objects are intermingled with various fruits such as grapes, lemons, melons, apples, and pears. The piece is classified within the painting genre and is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, having previously been owned by Cornelis Hoogendijk.
History & Provenance
The work titled Still life was painted by Johann Friedrich Gruber in 1661 using oil on canvas, as recorded in contemporary catalogues. Its creation date is documented as 1661, placing it in the early period of Dutch still‑life production. The painting depicts various musical instruments and fruit, rendered in oil on canvas.
Since its execution, the artwork has been part of the Rijksmuseum collection, having previously been owned by collector Cornelis Hoogendijk. The piece remains on display at the museum, preserving its original provenance from the 17th‑century Dutch art market.
Johann Friedrich Gruber's 1661 oil painting, titled 'Still life,' is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work, executed on canvas, measures 153 cm in height and 166 cm in width. While specific accession or inventory numbers are not provided in the available records, the painting is documented as part of the Rijksmuseum's holdings.
Historical records indicate that the artwork was previously owned by Cornelis Hoogendijk. The provided sources do not contain information regarding a specific exhibition history for this piece.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Still life, presents an arrangement of musical instruments and various fruits. The composition features a dark backdrop that enhances the vibrant hues of the foreground elements. The artist's meticulous rendering of light and shadow emphasizes the textures and forms of each object, inviting close observation of the detailed arrangement.
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Artist & collection
- Still Life
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