Jan Davidsz. de Heem at Rijksmuseum

26 novembre 2017

Jan Davidsz. de Heem at Rijksmuseum

Jan Davidsz de Heem, Self Portrait, 1630-1650, oil on panel, h 24 cm × w 19 cm, signature: ‘J D Heem’. Purchased with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, SK-A-2396 © Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Jan Davidsz. de Heem (1606-1683/1684) grew up in Utrecht, where he was apprenticed to floral still-life artist Balthasar van der Ast. In 1626, he moved to Leiden, where he painted monochrome still lifes employing one or at most two tints. His subjects were mainly musical instruments and books. De Heem moved to Antwerp after 1631. Here his paintings became increasingly colourful and elegant. He also changed his theme, concentrating more on fruit and flowers. Although he lived most of his life in Antwerp, De Heem continued to spend periods in the Republic: he was in Utrecht in 1649 and between 1665 and 1672. Jan Davidsz de Heem's work was popular among the buying public and among fellow artists. His many pupils and followers included Abraham Mignon.

Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Still Life with Books, 1625 - 1630, oil on panel, h 26.5cm × w 41.5cm, signature: ‘J. de. heem’. Gift of the heirs of C. Hoogendijk, The Hague, SK-A-2565 © Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Grey and brown tints dominate this composition, and a shadow spreads slowly over the wall. The painting alludes to the fleetingness of life. The battered books allude to transience. The music produced by the lute is momentary, a symbol of the brevity of life. A literal reference to death is inscribed on the sheet of paper draped over the table’s edge: ‘finis’ ([the] end).

Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Still Life with Flowers in a Glass Vase, 1650 - 1683, oil on copper, h 54.5cm × w 36.5cm, signature (false): ‘Rachel Ruysch’. On loan from the City of Amsterdam (A. van der Hoop Bequest), SK-C-214 © Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Festoon of Fruit and Flowers, 1650 - 1683, oil on canvas, h 74cm × w 60cm, signature: ‘J.D. de Heem R.’, SK-A-138 © Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

In 1626 this Utrecht-born painter moved to Antwerp, where he became acquainted with sumptuous and colourful Flemish still-life painting. He combined this influence with his gift for rendering nature in minute detail. This is clear to see in this floral and fruit festoon: a highly decorative entity that is nevertheless meticulously detailed. All kinds of hungry insects populate this still life.