Artwork
Still Life
Still Life is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter de Ring. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
Still Life, painted in 1653 by Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter de Ring, is a characteristic example of his work, featuring an opulent arrangement of food and luxury items.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a sumptuous table setting with fruits (grapes, melons), bread, leaves, and a white cloth, set against a dark background with a red curtain. The composition highlights abundance and the display of wealth through imported and local delicacies.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work showcases de Ring's attention to detail, capturing varied textures and a wide range of colors, typical of the Dutch Golden Age's emphasis on realism and sensory depth.
History & Provenance
Created in 1653, the painting is now part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp's collection. De Ring's signature, sometimes incorporating a painted ring or the Latin 'P.Ab.Annulo', authenticates his authorship.
Context
This still life reflects the Dutch Golden Age's cultural values, where lavish banquet scenes symbolized prosperity and the country's thriving trade, often featuring exotic goods like Chinese porcelain alongside local produce.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter de Ring, or Ryng (1615/1620 – 22 September 1660) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, famous for his opulent, flashy still lifes or banquet pieces with fruit, a lobster, a goblet, shrimps, oysters, a rug and Chinese porcelain.
- Still Life
Still Life
Still life
Still Life
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Sumptuous Still Life with Fruits, Pie and Goblets, 1651