Artwork
Still life with Lemons and Bread
Still life with Lemons and Bread is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Unknown. It dates from 1674 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work presents a modest arrangement of two lemons and a small loaf of bread set upon a dark, textured plane.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil paint on canvas and measures 42.5 cm by 59 cm. It exemplifies Dutch Golden Age still-life genre conventions through careful handling of light and compositional balance. The work was created in the Northern Low Countries in 1674 and currently resides in the Rijksmuseum collection in Rijswijk.
History & Provenance
Subsequently, it was acquired by the Rijksmuseum and is now part of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection in Rijswijk.
The painting was created in 1674 in the Northern Low Countries as an anonymous still life featuring lemons and bread. It is an oil paint work on canvas measuring 42.5 cm by 59 cm. Following its creation, the work entered the collection of Reinhard, Baron van Lynden. Subsequently, it was acquired by the Rijksmuseum and is now part of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection in Rijswijk.
Still life with Lemons and Bread is held by the Rijksmuseum as part of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection, with its location recorded as Rijswijk. The painting, executed in oil on canvas and dated 1674, was owned by Reinhard, Baron van Lynden. No inventory or accession number, and no exhibition history, is documented in the available sources.
Overview
The work presents a modest arrangement of two lemons and a small loaf of bread set upon a dark, textured plane. The fruit rests side by side, their bright yellow hue sharply defined against the deep background, while a folded cloth at the right edge hints at a softer surface. The composition relies on a limited palette and a restrained setting to focus attention on the objects themselves.
Subject & Meaning
The still‑life foregrounds everyday foodstuffs, citrus and bread, traditionally symbols of nourishment and abundance. Their juxtaposition invites contemplation of simple sustenance, while the stark lighting may suggest a meditation on the transience of material goods, a common theme in still‑life traditions that elevate ordinary items to objects of visual inquiry.
Context
Works that isolate a few objects against a dark backdrop belong to a lineage of Baroque and later still‑life practices, where dramatic lighting underscores material qualities. By limiting the scene to a handful of items, the artist aligns with a tradition that emphasizes formal balance, tonal harmony, and the study of light’s effect on form.
Artist & collection
