Artwork
Breakfast with Ham

Breakfast with Ham is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Claesz. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Its formal qualities include a restrained palette, clear spatial definition, and a focus on everyday objects typical of Dutch Golden Age still-life painting.
Breakfast with Ham is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel. The composition presents a ham, slices of bread, grapes, a peach, a plate, a knife, and a walnut arranged on a table, emphasizing careful detail and a balanced layout. Measuring 40 cm in height and 61 cm in width, the work belongs to the still-life genre and was produced in the Netherlands in 1647.
Its formal qualities include a restrained palette, clear spatial definition, and a focus on everyday objects typical of Dutch Golden Age still-life painting.
History & Provenance
Breakfast with Ham is an oil painting on panel created by the Dutch artist Pieter Claesz in 1647. The work was produced in the Netherlands and depicts a still-life arrangement featuring ham, bread, grapes, a peach, a plate, a knife, and a walnut. The painting measures 40 cm in height and 61 cm in width and is currently held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.
Overview
Pieter Claesz's "Breakfast with Ham," an oil painting from 1647, exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age tradition of still life. This composition captures a modest meal, showcasing everyday objects with meticulous detail. It is currently housed in the State Hermitage Museum, representing a significant work within the artist's oeuvre.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a domestic scene featuring a half-eaten loaf of bread, a slice of ham, and various fruits such as peaches and grapes, alongside nuts. A glass of water and a metal pitcher complete the arrangement, with a knife resting on the table. This genre often invited contemplation on daily life and the transient nature of existence, even in seemingly simple depictions.
Artist & collection

















