Jan Davidsz de Heem

Still Life with Books and a Violin

Jan Davidsz de Heem
Still Life with Books and a Violin

1628 Not on view

De Heem is known mainly for the colourful, flamboyant flower still-lifes he painted from 1650. But before that, he painted simple still-lifes in shades of brown and grey.

Educated viewers would have recognised the titles of the books on the table and understood that their central theme was the concept of fate. This added a deeper level to De Heem’s still-life. It warns against the mortality of mankind: dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return – however widely read you may be.

Technical details

Jan Davidsz de Heem
Still Life with Books and a Violin

1628 Not on view

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Details

General information
Artist Jan Davidsz de Heem (Utrecht 1606 - 1683/1684 Antwerp)
Title Still Life with Books and a Violin
Dated 1628
Object name painting
Inventory number 613
Material and technical details
Technique oil
Material panel
Dimensions 36.1 x 48.5 cm
Inscriptions
Signed and dated lower left, on a booklet: Johannes. de. / Heem. / .i628.
Inscription on the books, centre and left: G.A. BRDEROOS / Treur-spel van RODD'RICK ende ALPHONSVS / [. . .] / T'AMSTEL[DAM]; .NOTA BENE. [. . . ] .I. WE[. . . ] en .I. WESTERBAENS. / KVSIENS. CLAECHTEN. I. / [. . . ] / II. [W.?] L. [. . .] Arns

Provenance

Dowager J.K.H. de Jonge-de Kock, The Hague, before 1881; her heir, Jonkheer A.H.W. de Jonge (on loan to the Mauritshuis, 1897-1910); purchased by the Rembrandt Association, 1910; transferred, 1912