The still life with herrings, oysters and smoking utensils dates from around 1625 and is in exceptionally good condition. It shows a multitude of seductive luxury objects: white bread and wine and shiny fresh oysters, also known at the time as aphrodisiacs. The pipe on the right is ready to be lit; on the left a chic tobacco box, on the right a bowl of coals and on the far left the lighter sticks. With the exception of herring, all these things were reserved for the wealthy of the 17th century. They were stimulants and therefore regularly the target of criticism from moralists. Floris van schooten was a contemporary of the earliest haarlem still life specialists floris van dijck (circa 1575-1651) and nicolaes gilles (active circa 1612 – circa 1632). Van schooten's still life follows these contemporaries in design. He chooses a high horizon, places the objects next to each other and uses bright colors. But he also moved with the times. What is innovative here is the play of light on the wall and the simple wooden table top, which is reminiscent of the later 'monochrome banquettes' by pieter claesz. (1597/8 – 1660) and willem claesz. Heda (1594-1680). The frans hals museum still has two works by floris van schooten; a kitchen piece from 1620/25 and a still life with ham and cheese from 1638/40. The artist's work is rare; there are only three other still lifes by him in dutch museums. The still life with herrings, oysters and smoking utensils hung in the frans hals museum from 1953 to 2003 as a loan from the netherlands institute for collection. In 2003 it was returned to its rightful owners through the restitution commission. The frans hals museum is very pleased with the return of the still life. It forms an important connection between the early still lifes of floris van dijck and the later works of claesz. And heda. Main information
purchase year 2012. Object Type: painting. Genre: still life. Date: circa 1625. Dimensions: height: 35.5 cm (13.9 in); width: 49.4 cm (19.4 in). Medium: oil on panel. Collection: Frans Hals Museum. Stilleven met haringen, oesters en rookgerei
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