LARGE STILL LIFE - FLEMISH AREA - EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Title: Still Life with Game, Fish and Fruit in the Landscape
Period: Early 20th century (estimated between 1900 and 1930)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions (with frame): H. 153 cm x W. 188 cm
Dimensions (canvas only): H.126 cm x W.160 cm
Frame: Contemporary with the painting, in carved and gilded wood, with an elaborate profile and decorations with phytomorphic or geometric motifs.
It has an original patina with signs of wear consistent with its age.
Subject and Composition: The painting depicts a rich and opulent still life scene set in a wooded landscape, with an atmosphere reminiscent of the Flemish and Dutch pictorial tradition of the 17th century. The composition is complex and balanced, arranged on several levels and with considerable depth.
At the center of the scene, on a natural support, are:
Game: Several game birds (ducks and a pheasant) are arranged in the foreground, some with well-detailed feathers, and a hare is hung in the upper right, a symbol of a successful hunt.
Fish: A woven basket contains several silvery fish, with realistically rendered scales and eyes.
Mushrooms: An abundance of mushrooms of different varieties and sizes are scattered on the ground in the foreground and contained in baskets, showing a variety of shapes and colors, from porcini to chanterelles, with minute details on the gills and stems.
Fruit: Baskets full of fresh fruit complete the scene:
A large quantity of red and yellow apples are arranged in a basket further back.
Ripe green figs are presented in a bowl.
Some peaches are visible on the left.
Vivid yellow lemons are highlighted in the foreground on the left.
Accessories: An elegant metal jug with embossed decorations, presumably in pewter or silver, stands majestically on the left, adding a touch of refinement to the composition.
The background is characterized by dark trees, which give depth and a suggestive atmosphere to the scene.
Style and Pictorial Technique: The painting shows a remarkable mastery of the oil technique, with a rich and material brushstroke that effectively renders the different textures: the softness of the birds' feathers, the brilliance of the fish scales, the fleshiness of the fruit and the roughness of the mushrooms. The artist demonstrates careful observation of naturalistic details and an ability to render light and shadow, creating volumes and depth. The colors are earthy and deep, with accents of red, yellow and green that enliven the palette. The light seems to come from above on the left, illuminating the main subjects and creating a chiaroscuro that accentuates the three-dimensionality.
Condition: The work is in good overall condition, consistent with its age. . The canvas is well stretched on the original frame and shows no tears.
Additional Notes: This large painting is a significant example of early twentieth-century still life, which takes up themes and stylistic features of great Baroque painting, adapting them to the taste of the time. The richness of the details and the care in the representation of the elements make it a work of great visual impact.
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