976 - Still Life with Small Game and Fruit. Attributed to Antonio Ponce, Madrid School, 17th century

Still Life with Small Game and Fruit. Attributed to Antonio Ponce, Madrid School, 17th century Oil on canvas. Dimensions 69 x 127 cm. A magnificent Baroque still life of game and provisions arranged on a tiered table. The table displays a group of shot birds, small game, fruits, vegetables, and ceramic vessels, all arranged in a rigorously balanced composition. Ducks, partridges, and other birds are depicted with extraordinary detail, highlighting the tactile quality of their plumage, beaks, and limbs, while tomatoes, pears, apples, and cauliflowers add chromatic variety and symbolic richness. The presence of a small rodent introduces a naturalistic element characteristic of Spanish Baroque still life painting. The directed light emerges from the dark background, modeling volumes with a remarkable sculptural effect and reinforcing the contrast between light and shadow. The painting demonstrates a refined technique, featuring careful observation of nature and a sophisticated treatment of textures—qualities reminiscent of the 17th-century Madrid School and the styles developed by Antonio Ponce, a disciple of Juan van der Hamen. The compositional austerity, descriptive rigor, and visual intensity place the work among the most representative examples of Spanish Baroque still life, where the contemplation of earthly goods is combined with a subtle reflection on the fleeting nature of life. Dimensions: 69 x 127 cm.