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Artwork

Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler

Anthonie Leemans , 1655

Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler, by Anthonie Leemans, oil, 1655
Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler, by Anthonie Leemans, oil, 1655

Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Anthonie Leemans. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Technique & Style

Created in 1655, this still life is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 78 cm in height and 72 cm in width. As a painting within the still-life genre, the artist utilized oil pigments to render the complex arrangement of a broadsheet, a poem, and other objects. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

History & Provenance

The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The work, created by Anthonie Leemans in 1655, is part of the museum's permanent holdings of still-life paintings. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources. The provided documentation does not contain information regarding the exhibition history of this specific artwork.

Legacy
Its presence in a major national collection cemented its role in Dutch cultural memory, studied for merging political commentary with artistic tradition.

Anthonie Leemans' 1655 work influenced Dutch Golden Age still life painting through its integration of political news within everyday scenes. The piece is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, reflecting its enduring scholarly and curatorial interest in early modern visual narratives.

The painting's layered composition, combining a broadsheet with naval victory news and an Apelles allegory, inspired later artists to embed contemporary events within still life formats. Its presence in a major national collection cemented its role in Dutch cultural memory, studied for merging political commentary with artistic tradition.

Overview

An oil painting executed in 1655 by Dutch artist Anthonie Leemans, this still‑life assembles a variety of quotidian items on a cluttered tabletop. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and presents a carefully arranged scene that blends domestic objects with printed material, offering a snapshot of mid‑seventeenth‑century visual culture.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre of the composition lies a copy of the newspaper De Waere Mercurius, reporting Admiral Maarten Tromp’s triumph over three English vessels on 28 June 1639, alongside a poem recounting the legend of the painter Apelles and a cobbler. The inclusion of current news and literary reference suggests an interest in linking everyday life with contemporary events and classical anecdotes.

Context

Dutch still‑life in the 1650s often incorporated symbolic objects and references to current affairs, reflecting a market‑driven society attentive to news and commerce. By embedding a broadsheet about a naval victory, Leemans aligns his genre scene with the broader cultural practice of documenting triumphs within domestic settings.

Still Life with a Copy of De Waere Mercurius, a Broadsheet with the News of Tromp's Victory over three English Ships on 28 June 1639, and a Poem telling the story of Apelles and the Cobbler
Still Life with a Copy of De Waere Mercurius, a Broadsheet with the News of Tromp's Victory over three English Ships on 28 June 1639, and a Poem telling the story of Apelles and the Cobbler, Anthonie Leemans

Artist & collection

Artist

Anthonie Leemans

Anthonie Leemans (1631–1673) was an artist, born in The Hague.

Rijksmuseum

Museum

Rijksmuseum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Rijksmuseum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Rijksmuseum. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler?

Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler was painted by Anthonie Leemans in 1655.

Where can I see Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler?

Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler?

Still life with a copy of De Waere Mercurius, a broadsheet with the news of Tromp's victory over three English ships on 28 June 1639, and a poem telling the story of Apelles and the cobbler is associated with Dutch Golden Age.