ATTRIBUTED TO OTTO MARSEUS VAN SCHRIECK | Kitchen still life with fish, a lobster, and a cauliflower all on a table top, with a butterfly and a dragonfly

E. Gemar-Költzsch, Holländische Stillebenmaler im 17. Jahrhundert, Lingen 1995, vol. III, p. 924, cat. no. 362/1, reproduced p. 923;

S. Steensma, Otto Marseus can Schrieck, Leben und Werk, Hildesheim 1999, p. 201, cat. no. C2.3, reproduced fig. 224 (under Doubtful Works);

L.M. Helmus (ed.), Fish. Still lifes by Dutch and Flemish masters, exh. cat., Utrecht 2004, p. 417, reproduced p. 416;

H.-J. Raupp (ed.), Niederländische Malerei des. 17. Jahrhunderts der SØR Rusche-Sammlung, vol. 5, Stilleben und Tierstücke, Münster/Hamburg/London 2004, pp. 166-69, cat. no. 34, reproduced in colour;

W. Pijbes, M. Aarts, M.J. Bok et al, At Home in the Golden Age, exh. cat., Zwolle 2008, p. 67, cat. no. 46, reproduced in colour (as van Schrieck);

G. Seelig, Medusa's Menagerie. Otto Marseus van Schrieck and the scholars, exh. cat., Munich 2017, p. 19, reproduced in colour, fig. 7.

This painting is one of the earliest works to be signed and dated by Otto Marseus van Schrieck. It is also his only known fish still life, painted during his Italian sojourn between 1652 and 1657. Best known for his dark, atmospheric depictions of forest floor fauna and flora, as well as snakes, lizards and butterflies - captured specimens of which he would even apply to the paint surface - this work shows us that the young artist started his career painting a different sort of still life. The table top, set at eye level for the observer, and the minute, delicate attention to detail in the varied still life elements, reveal the influence of Van Schrieck's forebears of the previous generation of still life painters, such as Isaac Soreau and Peter Binoit.