(The Hague c. 1620–1690 Overschie)
A still life with peaches, grapes and a glass of wine,
oil on canvas, 31.5 x 37 cm, framed

Provenance:
with Grey Art Gallery, New York (according to a label on reverse);
with van Diemen Gallery, New York (according to a label on reverse);
with Benny Goodman, New York;
Private collection, Germany since 1951

A certificate from Walther Bernt, dated 14 March 1951, accompanies this lot.

Abraham van Beijeren was one of the most versatile artists in the 17th century in the Netherlands. He was the pre-eminent artist of fish still lifes but was also celebrated for his ‘pronk’ still life.

Van Beijeren learned his trade studying under his brother-in-law, Pieter de Putter (see lot 252 in the sales catalogue) a specialist in fish still lifes. His ‘pronk’ still lifes generally date from the 1650s and 1660s and depict a table laden with a variety of objects as can be seen in the present lot.

The artist’s compositions were influenced by those of Jan Davidsz. De Heem but are more broadly executed. The virtuosity of the artist’s handling of paint through broad brushstrokes becomes particularly apparent in his smaller works of which this picture is a fine example. Like many of the artist’s pictures, they are best appreciated at a slight distance where the brushstrokes with his soft palette fuse together to create a picture that is as much about atmosphere as it is about what is depicted.