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Adriaen Coorte, 'Still Life with Strawberries, Gooseberries and Asparagus', 1703

About the work

Overview

This is a typical example of the small but exquisitely executed still-life paintings which were Adriaen Coorte’s specialism. He used a dark background and dramatic lighting to highlight the contrast between different shapes and surfaces, such as the translucence of ripe gooseberries and the musty sheen on the plum.

The high degree of precision gives the impression of a realistic scene – you might assume it has been painted from life. But this can’t have been the case, because the food depicted here would not have been available at the same time. Asparagus spears are cut in May; strawberries usually ripen from June; gooseberries are picked in early July and plums in August.

Compositions which belied seasonal availability in this way were common in Dutch still-life and flower paintings, however. There was a long tradition of artists working from studio drawings rather than painting direct from nature.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Still Life with a Bowl of Strawberries, a Spray of Gooseberries, Asparagus and a Plum
Artist dates
1659/64 - in or after 1707
Date made
1703
Medium and support
oil on paper, mounted on canvas
Dimensions
35.7 × 42.8 cm
Inscription summary
Signed; Dated
Acquisition credit
Gift from the collection of Willem Baron van Dedem, 2017
Inventory number
NG6664
Location
Room 25
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
20th-century Replica Frame

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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