Artwork
Still Life with a Silver Jug and a Porcelain Bowl
Still Life with a Silver Jug and a Porcelain Bowl is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Willem Kalf. It dates from 1656 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition features a detailed arrangement of fruit situated within a porcelain bowl, positioned adjacent to an ornate silver jug.
Executed between 1655 and 1660, this work is an oil painting on canvas created by Willem Kalf in Amsterdam. The composition features a detailed arrangement of fruit situated within a porcelain bowl, positioned adjacent to an ornate silver jug. Kalf's handling of the medium captures the distinct textures of the objects, emphasizing the reflective qualities of the metalware against the ceramic and organic forms.
The painting measures approximately 73.8 cm in height and 65.2 cm in width, though slight variations in recorded dimensions exist. It remains in good condition as part of the Rijksmuseum's permanent collection, exemplifying the Dutch Golden Age style through its rich tonalities and meticulous attention to material surface.
History & Provenance
Willem Kalf painted Still Life with a Silver Jug and a Porcelain Bowl in Amsterdam in 1656, working in oil on canvas. The work later entered the private collection of Albertus Jonas Brandt. Following his death, the painting was sold at the disposal of Brandt's collection in Amsterdam on 29 October 1821, at which point the Rijksmuseum acquired it.
The painting has remained in the Rijksmuseum's holdings since that acquisition and is now displayed in the museum's Gallery of Honour.
The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and is catalogued under the inventory number SK-C-574. It entered the museum's collection following the 1821 sale of Albertus Jonas Brandt's collection on 29 October 1821. The work has been displayed in the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honour as part of its Dutch Golden Age still‑life presentation.
Context
Willem Kalf's Still Life with a Silver Jug and a Porcelain Bowl (1656) exemplifies the compositional refinement and luxurious materiality characteristic of Dutch Golden Age still-life painting. The work features a carefully balanced arrangement of fruit in a porcelain bowl beside a richly detailed silver jug, demonstrating the artist's mastery of texture and light. As part of Kalf's mature oeuvre, this painting reflects the influence of earlier Dutch masters while showcasing his distinctive approach to spatial harmony and object symbolism.
It is housed in the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honour, having entered the collection following the 1821 sale of Albertus Jonas Brandt's Amsterdam collection. The painting is closely related to, yet distinct from, the work titled Still Life with a Silver Jug (1655–1660) also attributed to Kalf and held by the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
Still Life with a Silver Jug and a Porcelain Bowl is an oil on canvas painting created by Willem Kalf between 1655 and 1660. It is a still life composition featuring a silver jug and a porcelain bowl with fruit.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a dark background with a shiny silver jug and a blue-and-white porcelain bowl containing fruit, including peaches, lemons, and a pear, alongside sugar cubes. The arrangement is set against a ledge with scattered leaves.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Willem Kalf (1619 – 31 July 1693) was one of the most prominent Dutch still-life painters of the 17th century, the Dutch Golden Age.
