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Title Still Life: Pewter and Silver Vessels and a Crab, Willem Claesz. Heda
Library The National Gallery
Date 1633-1637
Description In this painting, pewter and silver vessels, a crab, a lemon, a knife and a glass are seen on a table. The muted tonality and limited range of objects on the table seems to evoke an impression of modesty and restraint. However, quite the opposite is true. The lemon, salt and pepper, as well as the silver and pewter vessels, were expensive luxury items, available only to wealthy Dutchmen. The restrained colour range reflects the Haarlem tradition of the so-called 'monochromatic' still life.
Document Type Painting
Primary Commodity Silver and Gold
Theme Art and Literature
Keywords fruit, lemons, glass, salt, spices, pepper, fancy goods, fish, crab
Region Europe
Additional Information This work was previously attributed to Gerrit Willemsz. Heda but is now thought to be by his father Willem Claesz. Heda on the basis of comparison with a signed picture by him of the mid-1630s (Sweden, Oppenheimer collection).
Copyright Willem Claesz. Heda, Still Life: Pewter and Silver Vessels and a Crab, probably about 1633-7, © The National Gallery, London.