Still Lifes:Techniques and Style

The stunning beauty and diversity of 17th-century Dutch still-life painting raises many questions about developments in style and technique. What materials did artists use to produce these works? How were they made? Did all the still-life painters of this period use the same methods and materials? If they did, why are there so many striking differences? And if they used different materials, or the same materials in different ways, can we relate this to differences in style? These questions have been explored by conservators and curators of the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum and scientists attached to the Molart project (Molecular aspect of ageing in art) in an examination of a score of paintings from the museum collection. This clear and accessible presentation of their results provides an insight into the techniques of famous masters such as Jan Breughel, Balthasar van der Ast, Jan Davidsz de Heem, Willem Kalf, Rachel Ruysch and Jan van Huysum. Arie Wallert is curator of paintings at the Rijksmuseum and participant in the Molart project.