When Willem Kalf painted this luxurious still life, his home city of Amsterdam was the trading center of Europe. Persian textiles, tropical fruits, and Asian porcelains were just a few of the exotic commodities brought by intrepid Dutch seafarers to the bustling markets of the capital.
The precious objects assembled here are carefully arranged to celebrate both the painter's skill and the enterprising spirit of Holland's golden age. On a marble tabletop, polished Dutch silver reflects the sparkle of delicate Venetian glass, while a curling lemon peel teases the senses of smell and taste. Reflections animate the glossy surface of a Chinese export porcelain jar from the 1640s. The centerpiece of the composition is a Dutch roemer, or wine glass, with an elaborate gilded mount. At its base, a cherub clutches a cornucopia, symbolizing peace and plenty, but the rumpled carpet seems to offer only a precarious support. At left, a ticking watch signals the passage of time. While enjoying their worldly success, Dutch Calvinist burghers valued such reminders that their earthly prosperity was no substitute for eternal salvation.
If I could choose the golden vessels or the picture, there is no question, I would choose the picture.
-Poet and playwright J.W. von Goethe, 1749-1832, on a painting by Kalf
