Lot 2057 Dα

Little is known about the life of the Leiden painter Pieter de Ring. According to Houbraken, he was taught by Jan Davidsz de Heem, although this cannot be proven. The stylistic influence of de Heem is, however, clearly noticeable in the artist's still lifes. There is no record of him purchasing a house, the birth of a child, a marriage or a will, so the details of his personal life remain obscure. Pieter de Ring did, however, leave an impressive œuvre of still lifes with fruit, shellfish and vessels made of silver, glass and porcelain. He occasionally monogrammed or signed his works, but more often added a ring to his arrangements instead of a signature, as in the present painting. The tables in his works are often set with a blue tablecloth, the colour of which defines the palette of his compositions and provides a vivid contrast to the rich colours of the other motifs in his works, such as yellow lemons, red cherries, lobsters and other shellfish.