Still life paintings from the Netherlands, 1550–1720 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Still Life Paintings from the Netherlands 1550–1720 (in Dutch, Het Nederlandse Stilleven 1550–1720) was a special art exhibition. It took place in 1999 and 2000 at two famous museums: the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam in the Netherlands and the Cleveland Museum of Art in the United States. This exhibition showed how Dutch artists painted everyday objects, food, and flowers over many years.

The exhibition featured 80 amazing paintings. These artworks helped people understand the different kinds of still life art popular in the Netherlands during that time. Artists painted things like food in a kitchen, beautiful flowers, tasty breakfasts, and even objects that reminded people about life and time.

What is Still Life Painting?
- Why Did Artists Paint Still Life?
Types of Dutch Still Life Paintings
Famous Still Life Artists
Images for kids

What is Still Life Painting?

Still life painting is a type of art where artists draw or paint objects that don't move. These objects can be anything from fruit and flowers to books, musical instruments, or even dead animals. Artists arrange these items carefully to create an interesting picture.

Why Did Artists Paint Still Life?

In the Netherlands, especially during the 16th and 17th centuries, still life paintings became very popular. They weren't just pretty pictures. Many of these paintings had hidden meanings or told a story. They could show off wealth, remind people to be humble, or simply celebrate the beauty of nature.

Types of Dutch Still Life Paintings

Dutch artists were masters of still life. They developed several popular styles, each with its own special focus. Let's explore some of these interesting types.

Kitchen and Market Scenes

These paintings, sometimes called kitchen pieces (keukenstuk), showed bustling kitchens or busy market stalls. They were filled with food like meat, fish, and vegetables. Often, these scenes included people, sometimes even showing religious stories happening in the background.

Kitchen scene with Christ at Emmaus by Joachim Beuckelaer, around 1560. Can you spot the story of Christ in the background?

Fruit and Floral Still Life

Artists loved to paint colorful arrangements of fruit (fruitstuk) and flowers (blommetje). These paintings often showed off the artist's skill in capturing tiny details, like dewdrops on petals or the texture of a grape. They also celebrated the beauty and variety of nature.

Chinese porcelain vase of flowers on a tabletop by Jan Brueghel the Elder, 1609. Notice the detailed flowers and the fancy vase.

Flowers in a Glass by Ambrosius Bosschaert, 1606. This painting shows a beautiful bouquet in a simple glass.

Still Life with Flowers, Shells, and Insects by Balthasar van der Ast, around 1635. Look closely for the tiny insects!

Breakfast Pieces

Breakfast pieces (ontbijtje) were paintings that showed simple meals laid out on a table. These often included bread, cheese, herring, and drinks like beer or wine. They were a chance for artists to show off their ability to paint different textures, like crusty bread or shiny glass.

Breakfast Piece by Pieter Claesz, 1636. A simple meal, but painted with great detail.

Laid Table with Ham and a Roll by Willem Claeszoon Heda, 1635. Heda was famous for his elegant breakfast scenes.

Vanitas Paintings

Vanitas paintings were a special kind of still life that reminded people about how short life is and how worldly things don't last forever. They often included symbols like skulls, hourglasses, snuffed-out candles, or wilting flowers. These objects encouraged viewers to think about deeper meanings.

Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill by Pieter Claesz, 1628. The skull is a classic symbol in vanitas art.

Still life: An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life by Harmen Steenwijck, around 1640. This painting is full of symbols about life and time.

Vanitas still life by Maria van Oosterwijck, 1668. Another example by a female artist, showing common vanitas objects.

Hunting Pieces and Show Pieces

Hunting pieces (jaagstuk) displayed dead game, like birds or rabbits, often alongside hunting tools. These showed off the success of a hunt. Show pieces (pronkstilleven) were grander paintings that featured expensive and fancy objects, like silver cups, exotic fruits, and rich fabrics, to show wealth and luxury.

Still Life with Dead Game, Fruits, and Vegetables in a Market by Frans Snyders, 1614. Snyders was known for his large, detailed market scenes.

Still Life with Silver Ewer by Willem Kalf, 1656. This is a great example of a "show piece" with its luxurious items.

Famous Still Life Artists

Many artists became famous for their still life paintings. Some specialized in certain types, while others explored many different styles.

Early Masters

Artists like Pieter Aertsen and Joachim Beuckelaer were among the first to create large kitchen and market scenes. They often combined everyday life with religious stories. Jan Brueghel the Elder and Ambrosius Bosschaert were pioneers in painting beautiful, detailed flower bouquets.

Golden Age Painters

During the Dutch Golden Age (roughly the 17th century), artists like Willem Claesz. Heda and Pieter Claesz became known for their "breakfast pieces" and "vanitas" paintings. They were masters at showing light reflecting on different surfaces. Jan Davidsz. de Heem created rich and abundant still life paintings, often combining fruits, flowers, and luxurious objects.

Later Artists

Later artists, such as Willem Kalf, continued to paint magnificent "show pieces" with gleaming silver and glass. Maria van Oosterwijck and Rachel Ruysch were important female artists who excelled at painting intricate floral still life, showing incredible detail and vibrant colors.

Images for kids

Garland of Flowers around an Allegory of Farming by Jan Brueghel the Elder, 1615
Flowers in a Glass in a Niche by Roelant Savery, 1611
Still Life with Flowers in a Vase by Christoffel van den Berghe, 1617
Dishes with Oysters, Fruit, and Wine by Osias Beert, 1615
Still Life with Cheese by Floris van Dyck, around 1615
Emblematic Still Life with Flagon, Glass, Jug and Bridle by Johannes van der Beeck, 1614
The cabinet of a collector with paintings, shells, coins, fossils and flowers by Frans Francken the Younger, 1619
Game and fruit on a table by Frans Snyders, 1625
Open book, Skull, Violin and Oil Lamp by Pieter Claesz, 1629
Still Life with Books by Jan Lievens, 1630
Travel Pouch and Documents on a Table by Paulus Bor, 1630
Pewter Jug and Silver Tazza on a Table by Jan Jansz den Uyl, 1633
Nautilus Cup, Tazza, and Plates of Oysters by Willem Claeszoon Heda, 1649
Floral Still Life by Hans Bollongier, 1639
Flowers in a Vase by Daniel Seghers, 1630s
Flower garland with Saint Catherine by Daniel Seghers, 1650
Books and Pamphlets by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1628
Still Life with Books by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1627
Nautilus Cup with Silver Vessels by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1632
Fruit and Ham on a Table with a View of a City by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1646
Still Life of Fruit and Dead Fowl by Harmen Steenwijck, 1650
Abundant Still Life with a Parrot by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1655
A Richly Laid Table with Parrots by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1655
A Vase of Flowers by Jan Davidsz. de Heem, around 1665
Globe, Books and Lute by Gerrit Dou, 1635
Hourglass and Inkpot on a Shelf by Gerrit Dou, 1647
Money Bag and a Book on a Shelf by Gerrit Dou, 1647
Corner of a painter's studio by Simon Luttichuys, 1646
Vanitas with self-portrait by David Bailly, 1651
Coconuts by Albert Eckhout, around 1645
Pineapple, papaya and other fruit by Albert Eckhout, around 1645
Still Life with Peacocks by Rembrandt, 1636
Still Life with a Dead Swan by Jan Baptist Weenix, 1651
Banquet Still Life by Adriaen van Utrecht, 1644
Game Birds and Fruit with a Dog and Parrot by Jan Fyt, 1652
Vase of Flowers by Jan Fyt, 1660
Glasses, Smoking Implements, and Cards by Jan Jansz van de Velde, 1653
Still Life with Earthenware Jug and Clay Pipes by Pieter van Anraedt, 1658
Corner of a Barn by Willem Kalf, 1643
Drinking horn with lobster and glassware by Willem Kalf, 1653
Still Life with Chinese Bowl and Nautilus by Willem Kalf, 1662
Wineglass and a Bowl of Fruit by Willem Kalf, 1663
Door with towel brush and letter bag by Samuel van Hoogstraten, 1655
Letter Board by Samuel van Hoogstraten, 1662
Still life with letter board by Samuel van Hoogstraten, 1667
Documents on a wall by Cornelis Brisé, 1656
An Open Cupboard Door by Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts, 1665
In Praise of Herring by Joseph de Bray, 1656
Fish in a Basket near a Scale by Abraham van Beijeren, 1655
Silver Wine Jug, Ham, and Fruit by Abraham van Beijeren, around 1665
Vase of Flowers by Willem van Aelst, 1658
Seafood, Onion, and Glassware by Willem van Aelst, 1679
Skull, Money Bags, and Documents by N.L. Peschier, 1661
Large Vanitas by Pieter Boel, 1663
Game, Fish, and a Nest on a Forest Floor by Abraham Mignon, 1675
Still Life with Globe, Books, Sculpture, and Other Objects by Jan van der Heyden, 1670
Vase of Flowers by Simon Pietersz Verelst, 1670
Flowers in a Glass Vase by Dirck de Bray, 1671
Still Life with Flowers by Dirck de Bray, 1674
Still Life with Walnuts, Tobacco and Wine by Hubert van Ravesteyn, 1671
Still-Life with Chinese Teabowls by Pieter Gerritsz van Roestraten, around 1675
Still life near a fountain by Peeter Gijsels, around 1685
Seashells by Adriaen Coorte, 1698
Gooseberries on a Table by Adriaen Coorte, 1701
The Dead Swan by Jan Weenix, 1716
Flowers and fruit in a forest by Rachel Ruysch, 1714
Vase of Flowers on a Garden Ledge by Jan van Huysum, 1730

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