Lot 1044 Dα

Van Beyeren is considered one of the most versatile artists of his time and was an outstanding painter of still lifes. He was one of the greatest masters of the Netherlandish still life, of which the present work is an outstanding example. The painting was part of a collection offered at Sotheby's on 11 December 1996 that hung in three luxury hotels overlooking Lake Lucerne known as the Bürgenstock. The collection was put together by Friederich Frey-Fritz, who acquired the Bürgenstock in 1925, over a period of around 20 years.

Dr Fred Meijer confirmed the attribution to van Beyeren at the time of the Sotheby's sale and suggested that the present painting is an early work from the late 1640s. A very similar, reversed version that was found on the art market bears van Beyeren's monogram (see E. Gemar-Koeltsch: Holländische Stilllbenmaler im 17. Jahrhundert, vol. 1, p. 119). This painting was originally considered a work by Pieter Claesz. Van Beyeren's magnificent still lifes from the 1650s and 1660s are more under the influence of Jan Davidsz. de Heem. All of the paintings are characterised by the exuberant abundance of objects they portray: his tables are laden with a multitude of ornate glassware, gilded goblets, nautilus cups, silverware, Chinese porcelain, exquisite fruit and other delicacies.