Still Life with Drinking-Horn of St. Sebastians Archers' Guild
Susan Kern
Painting Analysis 1
Willem Kalf (1619–1693)
Oil on canvas 86.4 x 102.2 cm
Still Life with Drinking-Horn of St. Sebastians Archers' Guild, 1653
National Gallery http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/upload/pdf/notes_stuff-of-life.pdf (Enlarge the link to see detail)
Just a bit about the artist Willem Kalf, he was a Dutch artist in mid-1700’s who was known for painting called 'Pronkstilleven' in Dutch, meaning ‘ostentatious still life’. He used lavish objects for his paintings that were mostly kitchen and farm related.
2
Now about this painting. You can actually see this painting in better reproduction at the website I have included above. The painting style for the time period is somewhat of an experiment considering that the inhabitants didn’t have any form of reproducing images other than hand drawings. And the most amazing part is the usage of the color in this Rubenesque period of Dutch painters is outstanding. Several years ago I saw the Rubens exhibit at The Toledo Museum of Art and I was awestruck with the color of the paint. Centuries ago these painters called upon the use of some type of pigment and the mixture of a drying oil such as linseed or flax. While I realize that many of these works of this genre have been rehabilitated professionally with modern day techniques the color vibrancy is breathtaking.
When addressing the spatial/temporal relationship of this painting I think that a still life is the best way to present the best example of this process. The painter must be able to look at a dimensional setting and reproduce that visual into a portrait that will give the impression of dimension. Time and space must be give exquisite detail to complete the picture. In this picture, there is a light source on the left side of the painting (easier to see that from the link) which is broadcast throughout the painting. This is a wonderful example of our sight stimulating our other senses; while you look at the painting you
Painting Analysis 1
Willem Kalf (1619–1693)
Oil on canvas 86.4 x 102.2 cm
Still Life with Drinking-Horn of St. Sebastians Archers' Guild, 1653
National Gallery http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/upload/pdf/notes_stuff-of-life.pdf (Enlarge the link to see detail)
Just a bit about the artist Willem Kalf, he was a Dutch artist in mid-1700’s who was known for painting called 'Pronkstilleven' in Dutch, meaning ‘ostentatious still life’. He used lavish objects for his paintings that were mostly kitchen and farm related.
2
Now about this painting. You can actually see this painting in better reproduction at the website I have included above. The painting style for the time period is somewhat of an experiment considering that the inhabitants didn’t have any form of reproducing images other than hand drawings. And the most amazing part is the usage of the color in this Rubenesque period of Dutch painters is outstanding. Several years ago I saw the Rubens exhibit at The Toledo Museum of Art and I was awestruck with the color of the paint. Centuries ago these painters called upon the use of some type of pigment and the mixture of a drying oil such as linseed or flax. While I realize that many of these works of this genre have been rehabilitated professionally with modern day techniques the color vibrancy is breathtaking.
When addressing the spatial/temporal relationship of this painting I think that a still life is the best way to present the best example of this process. The painter must be able to look at a dimensional setting and reproduce that visual into a portrait that will give the impression of dimension. Time and space must be give exquisite detail to complete the picture. In this picture, there is a light source on the left side of the painting (easier to see that from the link) which is broadcast throughout the painting. This is a wonderful example of our sight stimulating our other senses; while you look at the painting you