1139 - FLEGEL, GEORG

FLEGEL, GEORG 1563 Olomouc–1638 Frankfurt am Main Circle of Title: Still Life with Cheese, Fruit, and Wine. Technique: Oil on panel. Mounting: Parquet-mounted. Dimensions: 51 x 73 cm. Frame: Framed. This still life can be attributed to the circle of the Frankfurt painter Georg Flegel (1566–1638), who ranks among the most significant figures in early German still-life painting. Characteristic of this pictorial tradition is the precise observation of the natural qualities of the objects, combined with a careful arrangement of their spatial relationships and a subtle compositional tension. In the left half of the painting, an intriguing interplay with the motif of precarious balance unfolds. A bowl richly filled with fruit, grapes, and peaches rests on a small pewter plate; on the right edge of the plate stands a Roman-style goblet filled with wine, while an apple and an olive are situated on the left. The silver jug placed in the foreground extends beyond the edge of the table, reinforcing the impression of an unstable arrangement that is almost out of balance. The apparent randomness of the placement proves to be an essential element of the composition. The right-hand half of the table, by contrast, forms a comparatively cohesive counterpoint. A slice of cheese, a pewter jug, bread, and a porcelain bowl filled with strawberries are grouped together to form a more tranquil-looking ensemble. The interplay between metallic reflections, the matte surface of the bread, the texture of the cheese, and the nuanced colors of the fruit opens up a wide range of painterly possibilities. At the same time, the juxtaposition of the two halves of the picture lends the composition its distinctive rhythm. The focus on everyday foodstuffs and vessels, their nuanced rendering of texture, and the interplay between careful order and apparent instability are in the tradition of still-life painting by Georg Flegel and his artistic circle. The painting can therefore be characterized as a “Variastillleben” from Flegel’s circle, though this does not necessarily imply that it was executed by the master himself. Provenance: - Private collection, Germany. Estimated shipping costs for this lot: This lot is not suitable for parcel shipping. Transportation is available only through a shipping company following consultation after the auction. Additional shipping insurance Shipping insurance up to a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: max. 41.65 euros over a total invoice amount of 25,000 euros: 1.8 per thousand Shipping to the USA by individual arrangement after the auction. #Georg Flegel #German School #Germany #16th/17th C. #Food #Still Life #Old Masters.