Lot 1093 D α

Jacob van Walscapelle belonged to the generation of Dutch still life painters of the second half of the 17th century whose works were inspired by those of Jan Davidsz de Heem and the opulent still life style which he developed. Today, Walscapelle's sumptuous and highly detailed works are among the most sought-after still lifes of the Dutch Golden Age.

In this work, the artist presents a rich assortment of precious and luxurious foods and objects on a grey stone slap supported by a sculpted putto. The composition is arranged diagonally from the lower left to the upper right and is dominated by the red lobster on a pewter plate. The lobster is flanked on the left by three open oysters and a bunch of black grapes on the right. A vine tendril with one larger and one smaller leaf extends out over the edge of the stone slab. Behind the lobster we see a Chinese dish filled with black and white grapes, an apricot, two peaches, blackberries, and walnuts.

The diagonal line of the composition is broken by two magnificent drinking glasses which reflect the light and the objects around them, contrasting against the midnight blue of the background. We see one unusual winged glass with an octagonal cuppa and a Venetian style cup and cover whose detailed finial forms the top of the composition.

The depiction of sumptuous delicacies and objets d'art, the balanced colour palette with the vivid red lobster in the centre and the masterful rendering of light and surface texture provide this still life with an allure that captivates the viewer today as it did in Walscapelle's time.

Jacob van Walscapelle was born Jacobus Cruydenier in Dordrecht. He later adopted the surname of his great grandfather on his mother's side. According to Arnold Houbraken, he was a pupil of the painter Cornelis Kick (1631/34-1681) in Amsterdam, but may have experienced some initial training in Dordrecht prior to this. Walscapelle occupied several public offices in Amsterdam as of 1673. Houbraken proposes that he gave up painting after this, but a work dated 1699 would suggest otherwise. His known oeuvre comprises almost entirely of flower, fruit, and vanitas still lifes which are known to have fetched handsome prices during the artist's lifetime.

We would like to thank Dr Fred Meijer for confirming that the present work was authored by Jacob van Walscapelle in the 1680s. He dates the work slightly later than Sam Segal, who suggests a date of around 1675 in his expertise.