Michiel Simons. Still life with blue and white grapes, chestnuts, a loaf of bread, peaches and a knife on a pewter plate, with a peeled lemon in a roemer, all arranged on a partly draped table

signed and dated lower left: M ^. Simons ^. f ^. 1652 ^.. oil on panel. 45.8 by 74.1 cm. Estimate 30,000—40,000 EUR

PROVENANCE: Anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Paul Brandt, 25-28 November 1970, lot 147.

EXHIBITED: Wiesbaden, Museum Wiesbaden, 5 Sammler - 5 Meinungen, 8 April - 27 May 1973.

NOTE: Little is known about the life and work of still life painter Michiel Simons. Although Simons is mentioned in an inventory in Antwerp in 1644, it seems likely that he was mainly active in the city of Utrecht, where he was recorded in 1669 and 1671, and where he lived until his death in 1673. Simons painted still lifes of dead game and fowl, and a few flower and fruit pieces. In Utrecht he clearly must have been influenced by artists such as Jan Davidsz. de Heem (1606-1683) and Ambrosius Bosschaert the Younger (1609-1645), but as this work clearly shows, he developed a strong individual style as well.

This painting is a beautiful example of the dramatic atmosphere and the rich colours Simons achieves by exploring strong contrasts of light and shade, and the subtle nuances of light which he uses to model softer elements, such as the grapes and leaves. This composition bears a strong resemblance to other signed works, all most likely executed in the early 1650s, and which all include the pewter plate with the peaches balancing on the left corner of the table¹.

1. See, for example those sold Berlin, Kettner, 23 November 1961, lot 415, and New York, Sotheby's, 14 January 1994, lot 106.

Sotheby's. Old Master Paintings. 11 Nov 08. Amsterdam. www.sothebys.com. photo courtesy Sotheby's