Monday, November 11, 2013

I Love Still Life

           I love the Old Masters' Still life. Why? When I look at the Still life paintings I think the artists tried to create a sense of nature. Fruit, vegetables, flowers, food comes alive under the Old Masters' brush. I imagine the people who cut these flowers, ate this food, fruit, used these dishes, glasses, cups, table cloths, curtain, etc.. 
Look at the 'Flower Still life' by Franz Xaver Petter and the 'Still Life, Flowers and Fruit' by Severin Roesen. There are many flowers and fruit that are piled on the table, in dishes and baskets. I love those tender colors of roses, bright irises and daffodils.

Franz Xaver Petter, 'Flower Still life', 1821


 
Severin Roesen , 'Still life, Flowers and Fruit', 1850

The artist Frans Snyders is wellknown as the collection of his works in Hermitage museum, Saint Petersburg. I've chosen his 'Fruit in a Bowl on a Red Cloth' and the 'Fruit Stall' to show you. There are many heavy ripe juicy fruit: pears, peaches, grape, plums, nuts, blackberry, figs in the Snyders's paintings. The fruit are everywhere: on a table, in dishes, bowls, all types of baskets, and even just on the floor, filling baskets, buckets, pails. When having seen them many years ago I was surprised by luxury, bright colors and abundance.

  Frans Snyders 'Fruit in a Bowl on a Red Cloth', 1620
Frans Snyders  'Fruit Stall', 1615

I've recently learned 'Still life' by Ivan Khrutsky and Antonio de Pereda and I liked their works. What the wonderful flowers, vases, cups and bureau! 

 Ivan Khrutsky 'Still life', 1854

Antonio de Pereda 'Still life with an ebony chest', 1652
 
Here are works 'Still-Life with Fruit and Flowers' by Tomas Hiepes and 'Still-Life on a Table with Fruit and Flowers' by Jan van Kessel. If you look attentively at the fruit you will see that they represent different countries and ripen at different times of the year.

 Tomas Hiepes 'Still-Life with Fruit and Flowers', 1642



Jan van Kessel 'Still-Life on a Table with Fruit and Flowers',1650

The Still life by Clara Peeters was an discovery to me some years ago. She painted many Still life and I want to show you two of them: 'Still life with a tart, roast chicken, bread, rice and olives' and 'Still life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels'. Food is so natural that I'd like to try these bread, cheese, tart and wine! 


  Clara Peeters 'Still life with a tart, roast chicken, bread, rice and olives', 1635

 Clara Peeters 'Still life with Cheeses, Almonds and Pretzels', 1640
 
I agree with specialists who say that Still life became an independent genre of painting thanks to many painters and especially to Snyders .

What do you think about Still life? Who of Old Masters do you prefer?

Have a nice week all!


41 comments:

  1. I prefer the more natural looking still life paintings rather than ones crowded with objects. But I like the small bird's nest hidden in the top photo and the little goldfinch.

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  2. These paintings are absolutely amazing. Wow. So beautiful.

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  3. Great pictures you show. I "decorate" often with fruit / apple / lemon / nuts etc. Wishing you a good Monday / good new week :) Hugs Hanne Bente

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    1. Thank you, have a nice week too, Hanne Bente!

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  4. These are lovely. I can remember as a child being quite fascinated by still life paintings.

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    1. You're right, Tracey, childish impressions are very strong. Thank you!

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  5. I don't know that much about art, but the paintings of the Old Masters always impressed me so much more than that of many modern artists. All the detail, especially in Snyder's "Fruit Stall"--amazing!

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    1. I think "Fruit Stall" is one of Snyders' masterpiece. Thank you, Rose!

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  6. Welcome Nadezda!
    I love painting old masters. The images are stunning.
    Images captivated me Franz Xaver Petter'a and "Still Life, flowers and fruits" and Severin Roesen'a.
    Nadezda, wish you have a nice and sunny week.
    Greetings.
    Lucia

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    1. The both still life are lovely and I liked the most 'Flower Still life' by Franz Xaver Petter with a goldfinch, a nest and a butterfly. Thank you, Lucia!

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  7. So painstakingly done to produce great works of art. In a way, these old masters are the true artists as only those with such skills can produce them. Impressionism are different genres and I love them too.

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    1. Elsie, the artist had to have great abilities, skills and craftsmanship to depict objects that seem alive on canvas since 16 century, I agree. Thank you!

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  8. What beautiful still life paintings you've shared. I love them all. The first is beautiful but I worry about the eggs in the nest with no mother bird to keep them warm. In Ivan Khrutsky 'Still life' the vase is gorgeous. What is the message of the glass tipping over, the water level not yet reflecting the movement of the cup? Antonio de Pereda 'Still life with an ebony chest' and Clara Peeters 'Still life with a tart, roast chicken, bread, rice and olives' are interesting! I love seeing beautiful dishes, table cloths, etc. Thank you for this great post, Nadezda!

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    1. I love carefully examine any Still life as you, Peter. Therefore I've chosen these interesting paintings. I love the most 'Fruit stall', it makes me staring a lot, there is many things to look at. Thank you!

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  9. Me alegra que nos traigas el arte a casa!! Se llama naturaleza muerta, pero parece que son reales, dan ganas de para cogerlas y comerlas:))
    Gracias por compartirlas.
    Que tengas buena noche:))
    Un beso

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    1. Si, Laura, todas las cosas son muy reales, especialmente el agua (Antonio de Pereda) o el queso (Clara Peeters). Gracias, buena semana!

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  10. So pretty. I love the ones with the flowers the best. In my kitchen, I have a still life with fruit and flowers hanging by my breakfast table. Not anyone famous, of course, but I still love looking at all the different fruits and flowers in it.

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    1. I can imagine your kitchen and this Still life on the wall, Holley. It's wonderful to see it every morning, lovely fruit and beautiful flowers despite of the season outside. Thank you!

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  11. Dear Nadezda,
    I am a big fan of still life. You have chosen some very nice ones.
    I like Severin Roesen 'Still life, Flowers and Fruit', 1850, and Ivan Khrutsky 'Still life', 1854 because if there is one thing I really like it is paintings of roses.
    Bye for now,
    Kirk

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    1. I agree, Kirk, these Still life are beautiful, the roses are masterfully painted. Thank you!

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  12. Nadezda your old masters' paintings are so beautiful. I love these still life paintings especially with flowers and fruits. We have rather often expositions of them in our musea. My favourite painters are Jan van Huysum, Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Rachel Ruysch, Bosschaert and Saverij but there are many more good ones.

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    1. I know well the artist Jan van Huysum, his Still life 'Flowers and Fruit' 1723 is in the Hermitage collection here, in Saint Petersburg. I love his paintings as well! Thank you, Janneke!

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  13. What amazes me about these paintings is how civilized life was even back in the 1600s. People had nice dishes and cloth napkins and tablecloths and fancy cutlery. And we enjoyed the same things we enjoy today. Good, natural food. Great post!

    You asked about the Bacopa on my blog. I bought small plants a year ago. They wintered over last year and have been in bloom since February under my covered patio. What a workhorse of a plant. I've never grown them from seed but if I couldn't buy the plants, I surely would. Good luck and keep me posted. Stay warm.

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    1. You're right, Grace, good, natural food and drinks! I will try to grow Bacopa from seeds, as I do with petunias ans lobelia. Thank you!

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  14. Stunning paintings Nadezda. I've never been a lover of still life but am becoming more enthused as the years go by. Thank you for sharing these with us.
    Patricia x

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  15. Amazing paintings dear Nadezda!!!Great art and artists!!!
    I like paintings with flowers too!!!Thank you for sharing!!!
    Have a nice week!!!
    Dimi...

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    1. Your vases with decoupage are made with painting as well, Dimi. Thank you!

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  16. Hi Nadezda! I loved your selections of paintings and commentary. I have to admit I am very ignorant about painters, old and new,. The one I am most aware of are Monet and the impressionists, because of the garden at Giverny, and also because we saw their work at the Musee D'Orsee.

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    1. I agree, I love Claude Monet's paintings as well, especially his Nymphaeas. Thank you, Jason!

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  17. These are very beautiful still lifes Nadezda, thankyou for sharing your wonderful photos with us.

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  18. Oh, Nadezda, I love them all!
    I have always loved and admired paintings that looks almost like you can reach out and touch the items displayed – they are so life like, and yet often so softly toned. The old masters really knew how to do it. I don’t have any paintings in my own house – my house is crammed full with my own art on all the walls, much cheaper :-) But I would have loved to have a painting of Monet.

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    1. Oh, Monet painted many Still life of his garden and pond! Thank you, Helene!

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  19. Te deseo un buen fin de semana:)))

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  20. there is always so much going on in these still lifes.....I like the last one best

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    1. Ripe cheeses (since 1640 :)), I love them as well. Thank you, Sharon!

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  21. Thank you for sharing those beatiful paintings! It's enjoyable to see plateware or cutlery especially in the last painting.The details of the honey pot is amazing!

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