17th century

Still Life with Fruit and a Lobster

This painting closely follows those by the leading Antwerp master of the pronk (sumptuous) still life, Jan Davidsz. de Heem, whose compositions range from simple vertical arrangements of foods and tableware to enormous tables laden with feast-like quantities of these items. These richly colored works often include exotic fruits and foods, such as the lemon and lobster seen here, as well as exceptional examples of metalwork and glassware. They were admired not only by the anonymous artist of this painting, but were also a key influence on Willem Kalf and Willem Claesz. Heda.