Page "Jan Davidsz. de Heem" Paragraph 3

De Heem was one of the greatest painters of still life in the Netherlands, combining a brilliance and harmony of colour along with an accurate rendering of objects: flowers, in all their variety ; European and tropical fruits ; lobsters and oysters ; butterflies and moths ; stone and metal ; snails and sea shells.

Some of his works are displays of abundance ; others, only a festoon or a nosegay.

Often he would convey a moral or illustrate a motto: a snake lying coiled under grass ; a skull on plants in bloom.

Gold and silver cups or tankards are suggestive of the vanity of earthly possessions.

Salvation is seen allegorically as a chalice amid blossoms, and death as a crucifix in a wreath.

Sometimes de Heem painted, alone or with others, Madonnas or portraits in garlands of fruit or flowers.

His signature varied: his initials ( J.

De Heem f .), or Johannes ( IOANNES DE HEEM F .), or his father's name adjoined to his own ( J. D. De Heem f .).

Occasionally he provided a date ( such as A. i65i ), especially with his best work.