Fine Art Tuesday

 

Perhaps Claesz last painting before his death, a snuffed candle, cards representing chance, a spilled wineglass, a pocket watch, a skull and femur, a lyre without strings and a flute and a book opened to "Mort".

Pieter Claesz was born approximately 1597 in Belgium and died in 1660 in North Holland.

He was famous for "Still Lifes".

Claesz was chosen for this weeks artist because of recent conversations about food. Each item in his still lifes were symbolic: Citrus fruits were signs of wealth, grapes were decadence, wine was revelry, oysters symbolized sex, candles indicated passing time, bones and tipped over wineglasses indicated mortality and unexpected death and so on.

Pocket-watch in right foreground. This is circa 1640 and was the iPhone 20 level technology of the time. Also a key on a ribbon. Look at the detail on the decorative chains on the spilled, silver goblet.

A close-up of the picture shown above.

Knife in sheath in center foreground. Walnut behind it symbolizing masculinity (Juglans regia: God's testicles). Salt in background indicating zest or savor for life. The small berries are currants.

Hazel nuts on left corner of table. Chestnut still in husk on right-rear corner.

Neck of a violin and bow in left background. Exquisite work on the reflection of the silver wine decanter.

Weight-lifting notes: DL 135 x 6 raw, (205 x 6) x 3 straps, (215 x 6 ) x 1 straps, 227.5 x 2 straps (PR) Total 6245