19th century, follower of Maximilian Pfeiler Still life with grapes and watermelon and carpet Oil on canvas, 72 x 99 cm The elegant still life under examination presents an orderly fruit banquet accompanied by an elaborate Persian carpet and musical instruments. In a multi-layered composition, one can recognize juicy figs, vine shoots and bunches of grapes, a pomegranate, and finally some lemons. The painting, executed in the early 19th century, owes its style and composition to the manner of the painter Maximilian Pfeiler. The life of Maximilian Pfeiler is not well documented, and there are few chronological references to his activity. The few existing sources indicate that in 1683 he was a member of the Prague Painters' Guild, his native city, and a pupil of Christian Berentz (1658-1722), a painter of German origin who traveled first to the Netherlands and then settled in Rome, introducing in Italy northern European themes of the still life genre in which he specialized. It is not clear whether Pfeiler's apprenticeship with Berentz took place in Rome, where the Czech artist was certainly active from 1694, weaving collaborations with Francesco Trevisani and Michele Rocca. Pfeiler thus managed to carve out a prominent role for himself in the Roman artistic scene of the late 17th - early 18th century, creating extravagant and recognizable compositions of fruits and flowers that were highly appreciated by illustrious men: for example, some of his works were part of the collection of Cardinal Fesch. The object is in a good state of conservation