Lot 1054 Dα

This work stands firmly in the tradition of 17th century Antwerp still life painting, with the closest stylistic parallels found in the paintings of Jan Davidsz de Heem, Daniel Seghers, Joris van Son and Frans Snyders. The depiction of a wide variety of items is characteristic of van Son's still lifes, and this piece is no exception. He tastefully arranges fruit, silver bowls, a Chinese porcelain dish, a woven basket, a gigantic lobster, and small crabs on a stone table that forms a backdrop for the vivid, sensual splendour of his still life. One notable recurring element in his works is the white cloth that van Son frequently draped prominently in his compositions, lending them a lighter overall palette. This is often contrasted effectively with red cherries and surrounding dark foliage (for a similar work, cf.: W. Bernt: Die Niederländischen Maler des 17. Jahrhunderts, 1980, vol. III, no. 1168).
Fred Meijer attributes this painting to the artist Thomas Mertens.