Peter Klas
Peter Klas is the Dutch artist writing still lifes. He was born in 1597, in 1620 became the master of guild of Saint Luka in Antwerp. In 1621 moved to Harlem (near Antwerp). It trained in craft of the painter the son and some more noticeable artists of that time. are divided of his picture into two groups: "banquet" and "fussy" ("vanitas"), that is devoted to a life vanity.
Still lifes could be "poorer" and "richer", simpler and more difficult. One of rich and interesting - a still life with a turkey-cock.
Magnificently laid table: a silver jug and a glass with wine, a precious cup from a sink "Nautilus", oysters, olives, two pies - one sweet, another with a game, a porcelain dish with grapes and apples, the white ironed-out cloth over a carpet. .
Near fruit on a plateau some seasonings are scattered, yet not absolutely poured out one from a kulechka. It is interesting that the paper bag is made of the newspaper. Also it looks as if it was just curtailed by the shop assistant of sunflower seeds on a market.
For our contemporary the newspaper - waste material, waste paper. But the newspaper in such environment is a symbol of a high position of the owner of a table: he received newspapers on a subscription that was in those days luxury. That is, the newspaper - attribute of rich life.
The same treats also spices. From a paper bag, probably, ground pepper poured out, and white powder - can be, icing sugar.
The scrupulous artist informed us that in those days some drawings were published in newspapers. On manner of performance it is possible to tell that it is not just an illustration, it is a caricature.
In the depth of a picture - turkey-cock pie. It is obvious that a turkey-cock - the effigy which was put on a cover of the closed pie and meant that under it - meat pie. If from above there was a duck - with duck`s flesh, a goose - with goose meat, a turkey-cock - with turkey if from above there was a peacock or a swan - and inside there was a meat of a peacock or swan.
On the feedwell of pie drawing is visible - already in those days cooks (possibly, confectioners at that time were not allocated from the lump of cooks yet) used forms with the squeezed-out ornaments.
Nearby - open pie. It is impossible to claim precisely that at it inside, but assumptions can be made. The first - inside lies a lemon slice, he takes the central place. Though it can be also orange. It is slightly less - prunes. Small berries - it is possible, raisin. The second - both rice, and millet, and wheat could be a basis of this mix (integral or shredded, but it is rather - shredded, like barley grits).
For pastries probably there were already demountable forms: bottom separately, feedwell demountable separately.
Near oysters - a knife. On an edge the monogram of the artist and date of writing of a picture is read. The knife handle - carved of an ivory.
It is natural to assume that if the table extraordinary richly looks, it does not mean, as the artist is rich (though some communication between reality and a picture exists). For example, whether the artist could could own such rather expensive and rare thing how, for example, a cup "Nautilus"? The best jewelers made such cups for gifts to reigning persons.
Also the situation and with effigies of birds, and with products from silver - jugs, dishes, spoons, knives was. Most likely, he received such things in guild of artists (the guild is a shop or more likely labor union, cooperative) on operating time over a picture.
It would seem, well can report us a still life about life? At first sight, anything concrete: in total abstractedly, any attitude towards reality. But if the artist is meticulous, exact in details, even the still life can tell a lot of interesting about its time.
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