#Willem kelf full#

He adjusts the lighting across the painting to extract as much drama as possible from the subject. Kalf painted the picture to display his skills as an artist and to demonstrate a level of craftsmanship that surpasses the quality of his subject matter.ДЄt this time, realistic representation in art was valued as a measure of artistic quality, but Kalf pushes his image beyond mere technique. 'Still Life with a Chinese Porcelain Jar' is not simply a painting of luxurious objects it is a luxurious object in itself, even more desirable than the items it depicts. For example, you can see the Turkish rug, silver tray and the ornamental knife in several other paintings. Consequently some of these items often reappear in different works. Kalf was also an art dealer who had easy access to many of the the 'objets d'art' that appear in his still lifes. They all depict a collection of rare or expensive objects, usually combined with exotic foods and arranged on a tabletop against a very dark background. Still Life with a Chinese Porcelain Jar' is a typical example of Kalf's mature work which was painted in Amsterdam, where he finally settled in 1653. All these elements are carefully balanced to lead your eye around the composition so that you savour each flavour of this visual feast. The still life is meticulously painted in a variety of sparkling colors and textures that convince the viewer of the physical reality of each object: the red sheen of the hard lobster shell, the waxy peel, spongy pith and juicy pulp of the lemon, the delicate transparency of the Venetian glass goblets, the shimmering light from the burnished silverware, the striated lines of growth on the polished horn, and the soft woven texture and pattern of the Turkish table carpet on the marble table top. You can still see this actual horn today as it is an exhibit in the Historisch Museum in Amsterdam. Ironically, he has become the patron saint of archers. The company of Roman archers who carried out his execution left him for dead, but he survived and was rescued by Saint Irene of Rome.

#Willem kelf full#

He was tied to a tree and shot full of arrows. Legend has it that Sebastian, a Roman soldier, was executed for his Christian beliefs at the order of the emperor Diocletian. This ceremonial vessel is a large buffalo horn whose silver mount portrays the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. Sebastian ArchersвЂ™ Guild, a militia group who formed part of the Amsterdam civic guard. The peeled lemon that sits between its claws extends its form to create a diagonal movement across the picture which is counterbalanced by the dynamic curve of the silver-mounted drinking horn from the St. It features a vibrant red lobster, a delicacy that characterizes the opulent lifestyle of its owner. Still Life with Drinking Horn' is a classic Dutch still life from the Baroque period which represents the grandeur that appealed to the merchant classes in 17th century Holland. For example, the inclusion of citrus fruits alongside wine is often read as encouraging moderation in the use of alcohol, as lemon juice was added to wine to reduce its potency and for medicinal effect. However the choice of objects was not always for spectacle alone as they sometimes carried a symbolic significance. Although only the rich could afford such rare artefacts, which were usually imported from distant lands, their inclusion in a painting could be interpreted as a patriotic tribute to the prosperity of Dutch trade. Venetian glass, Chinese porcelain and Turkish carpets bedecked with ornamental gold and silverware were painted as status symbols, to be hung in the homes of the affluent patrons who commissioned them. These still lifes displayed an array of luxurious possessions that reflected the lifestyle of the wealthy in seventeenth century Holland. Willem Kalf was one of the greatest Dutch masters of a type of still life painting called 'pronkstilleven', a term that translates as 'ostentatious still life'.