Skip to main content
Back
9 of 46
Still Life with Fish
Still Life with Fish

Still Life with Fish

Artist (Antwerp, Belgium, 1587 - 1661)
Date1625-1661
Mediumoil on panel
ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings
DimensionsOverall: Height: 22.9 cm, Width: 32.8 cm
Frame: Height: 40.6 cm, Width: 50.3 cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1940 by Sir William Burrell.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG004524
Keywords
About MeAlexander Adriaenssen was born in Antwerp in 1587. His many signed and often dated oil paintings on wood and canvas are all still-lifes, mainly of food on tables with copper- and tinware, glass and pottery . His compositions are graceful, balanced and they are bathed in a soft chiaroscuro.
He became Master in the Antwerp Guild in 1610 and became an associate of Rubens.

Still Life with Fish was quite a common theme in 17th century still life in the Low Countries. While fish played an important role in Northern European life, cats were not especially well liked because they were considered untrustworthy. Here, the cat is tucking into a fish, with a rather evil glint in its eye. In symbolic terms, fish could also represent Christ and the cat could personify evil.

More About Me

Adraenssen, Flemish Baroque painter, specialised in still-lives with fish or game. Here the fish may represent Christ and the cat evil.