Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Still life with a crystal goblet and a painted ceramic jug
Hubert van Ravesteyn (Dordrecht 1638-1683) workshop/cerchia
Flemish painter, mid 17th century
Oil on canvas
59 x 74 cm. - Framed 74 x 88 cm.
Provenance: Hampel Munich, 29.06.2023, lot 1017
https://www.hampel-auctions.com/a/Maler-des-17-18-Jahrhunderts.html?a=136&s=877&id=578227
The composition offers us a typical Flemish still life of the 17th century where, carefully arranged starting from the left edge of the table partially covered by a cloth, we can admire, in order, a magnificent Venetian crystal goblet, a plate with bread, a painted porcelain jug with a silver lid; on the right instead, a selection of fruit and vegetables, with apples, beets and a large cabbage in a woven basket, while on the table are two pears and some chestnuts.
The stylistic and compositional characteristics of the painting led us to identify its author in the orbit of the Flemish painter Hubert van Ravesteyn (Dordrecht 1638-1683), whose painting is very identifiable, with a mixture of realism and abstraction that convey a unique and fascinating feeling.
Going into specifics, he uses a careful arrangement of individual objects in his compositions to create a feeling of balance and harmony. His use of space is also remarkable, as the elements of emptiness highlight the beauty of the objects.
This artwork is a perfect example of the artist's ability to capture the beauty of everyday, non-artefactual objects through painting. It looks like a photograph of a table from a 17th century Dutch family, without too many frills.
The work also has an allegorical meaning, as is often the case with this kind of composition, their reading invites us to see a kind of emblem that conveys a moralising message.
The sobriety of the composition, consequently, refers to the concept of morality, which takes on particular significance when associated with the foodstuffs represented (first and foremost bread) as well as the robust jug. The only detail that we could define as out of the chorus is the fine crystal cup, placed not by chance by the author off-centre on the left, which alludes to the caducity of worldly pleasures, in contrast to the rest of the depiction which, on the contrary, refers to the stability of the spiritual sphere.
Delevery information :
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