Still Life With Two Lemons, a Faqon de Venise Glass, Roenne, Knife and Olives on a Table(c1629)
Oil on panel
Pieter Claesz
Metropolitan Museum of Art
As expected the museum was busy, but I was able to find my own space as I viewed the collections. I always get lost in the Egyptian exhibit; I can’t get enough of the little trinkets and sculptures on display. In my near future I am planning a trip to Egypt to see the Cairo Museum, Pyramids, and all the other sights. I am hoping the world will sober up to a point of greater sanity by then, but I am going regardless. Either way while in Egypt, I will have to avoid my tendency to explore the lesser traveled path and stay on the tourist trail.

This piece really got my attention when I saw it. I was amazed at the lifelike details that the artist captured. The glass in particular is very close to a photograph (see below).
I was even more amazed when I found out that it was painted in 1629. That is only a few years after the Mayflower set sail. As I stood there looking at this painting, I almost expected to be able to take a drink from the glass. I can’t say that I have seen a more realistic painting in my life.
According to the information posted next to the painting, “Claesz was the leading representative of the monochrome still life or monochrome breakfast piece in the Netherlands.” I came up with very little on this painting via the Internet, but I did fid out that Claesz painted still life paintings that are displayed in many museums including the Louvre. His other works also exhibit his master of capturing the reality of his subjects. (see below)
Still-life with Wine Glass and Silver Bowl, Pieter Claesz (c ?)
Oil on wood, Staatliche Museen, Berlin
Not only did he capture the detail of the glass, but look at the detail of the candle stick. It is almost unbelievable.
Here are some more paintings that caught my eye:

Camille Monet on Garden Bench, Claude Monet (c1873)
Oil on canvas

Landscape With Pine Trees, Henri Edmund Cross (c1896)
Oil on canvas
Before Dinner, Pierre Bonnard (c 1924)
Oil on canvas

View of Collioure, Paul Signac (c1887)
Oil on canvas
Allee of Chestnut Trees, Alfred Sisley (c1867)
Oil on canvas























The Shore at Trouville; Sunset Effect, Gustave Courbet (c1866)







What initially drew me to this were the vivid colors of the nobles cast over the drab black color of the commoners. There is no mistaking the roles of the subjects in the painting. The rich are shown in bright colors (even Anne who is in mourning) and the common people are shown in a mass of black. Even the paths are not equal. Lady Anne and Richard walk to the left with plenty of room. The common people are in a crowded bunch to the right. When I first looked at this, I misjudged the message (I checked Edwin Austin Abbey’s bio when I got home). I took the message as a statement on society. I thought the few bright figures represented the few people who enjoy living in affluence, and the others dressed in black represented the working class. I did notice the ring Richard was holding, but could not figure out the meaning.


It is a large painting (52.5 x 104.25 inches) and the size works to showcase the contrast of color the artist chose. Although Edwin Austin Abbey was an American painter, the style has a distinct European look. In fact it is based on an English writers work ( I probably should describe Shakespeare as THE English writer).

