art gallery of south australia

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Herman van der MIJN

Herman van der MIJN
born Amsterdam 1684
died London 1741
Still life with medallion
1711, Antwerp, Flanders (now Belgium)
oil on canvas
Gift of Susan Cocks and Dr J.B. Robinson, Colin and Robyn Cowan, Emeritus Professor Anne Edwards AO, Gwinnett Family, Peter and Pamela McKee, Tom Pearce, John Phillips and David Urry through the Art Gallery of South Australia Foundation Collectors Club 2019
20197P128
Still life with medallion demonstrates the ongoing importance of the still life genre, a tradition which came to the fore in the seventeenth century, during what is now known as the Golden Age of Dutch Painting. Beyond merely representing beautifully arranged objects, Dutch still lifes are replete with important symbolism and are often associated with the profound concepts of life, death and rebirth. Each of the objects in this exotic concoction of red and white grapes, peaches, apricots, a gourd and chestnut, has its own symbolic meaning, but more generally this work can be interpreted as a vanitas, a sombre reminder of both the beauty and fragility of everyday life.