Fruit in a wan-li porcelain dish on a table (1625)

"Fruit in a wan-li porcelain dish on a table" (1625) is a work by Balthasar van der Ast. Historical background, 1625: The seventeenth century is the age of the Baroque, which favoured dramatic light, movement, and strong emotion in the work of painters in Italy, Spain, and Flanders. In Japan the Edo period began in 1603, and in China the Qing dynasty took power in 1644, both bringing new patrons and styles. Still Life in brief: Later artists, including Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso, used humble still-life subjects to test ideas about space and form. Dutch vanitas paintings used objects such as skulls, candles, and wilting flowers to remind viewers that time passes. It is listed in the Still Life collection. The image is in landscape orientation.

"Fruit in a wan-li porcelain dish on a table" is shown in the onlly.art catalogue for reference and browsing. A landscape format suits wide, low wall spaces such as the stretch above a bed, mantel, or sideboard. Still life works are appreciated for their intimacy and rich surface detail, which makes them especially suited to dining rooms, kitchens, studies, and other quieter parts of the home. Browsing works by the same artist, or from the same period, is a good way to compare styles before choosing what suits your space.

Dutch, 1593–1657

If you like the visual language of Balthasar van der Ast, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.