Huybert Van Westhoven (1642-1712) Signed. Still Life With Fruit And Precious Objects

Huybert Van Westhoven (1642-1712) signed. Still life with fruit and precious objects on an entablature.

Relined canvas measuring 69 cm by 65 cm.
Very large frame measuring 110 cm by 96 cm.

Our painting depicts a refinement typical of Dutch Golden Age art. On a table covered with a heavy brown drape with satiny reflections, a composition of precious objects and fruit is arranged. In the foreground, we can see a whole orange and a half-eaten orange, some white peaches marked with red, and a bunch of grapes with translucent grains. In a Chinese porcelain bowl with blue decoration, rest several mandarins. In the background, a large nautilus mounted in a bowl on a pedestal that appears to be made of red coral, decorated with a figurine, testifies to the collectors' taste for natural curiosities and exotic objects. To its left, a barely visible glass containing a little wine. To the right, on the edge of the table, a pocket watch with its golden chain and a key accentuate the vanitas dimension of the scene, recalling the passage of time. The light, subtly controlled, brightly illuminates the fruit and objects, set off against a dark background, reinforcing the effect of contrast and theatricality. The meticulous rendering of the materials, the brilliance of the metal, the softness of the velvet, the translucency of the grapes, illustrates Van Westhoven's technical virtuosity.
We know almost nothing about this talented painter's life. He was active in the 17th century, specializing in still life. Sources differ on his dates: some say he was born in The Hague in 1642/43 and died in Amsterdam in 1712 (a formula adopted by Sotheby's), others give Amsterdam 1643–1687 (Bonhams) or 1643 – after 1699 (Dorotheum). The documented activity covers 1668–1699 (Christie's). In any case, the few paintings that have survived so far are of high quality. Sotheby's 1995, Still life with fruit, a lobster in a porcelain bowl, a sliced lemon, €45,000. Christie's 2021, Peaches, Grapes on the Vine, Plums and other Fruit on a Silver Dish, €25,000. 17th-century

Dutch vanitas In the 17th century,

the Dutch West experienced unprecedented economic and cultural prosperity. In this context, still life developed as an independent genre, appreciated for its meticulous realism and the richness of its compositions. Among these works, vanitas occupy a special place. Behind the seductive appearance of ripe fruit, chiseled glass, Far Eastern porcelain, or precious shells, these paintings convey a moral and spiritual message. Each element has a meaning: the pocket watch recalls the passing of time, spoiled fruit or wilted flowers evoke the corruption of the flesh, while luxury objects express the illusion of earthly riches. Vanitas thus reminds the viewer that beauty, youth, and fortune are ephemeral. Faced with the inexorable passage of time and the certainty of death, they invite reflection on the human condition and the spiritual values that alone escape destruction.