Still Life with Cherries, Strawberries and Gooseberries, 1630
12-5/8 x 19-1/8 in. The Norton Simon Foundation
Moillon was one of the pioneers of French still life painting. This exquisitely realized painting, one of the few examples by Moillon in American collections, was painted when the artist was a mere twenty years of age. Moillon rendered her "portraits" of fruit with a sharp eye aided by her meticulous hand. Whether or not the still life paintings by Moillon and her contemporaries lacked the sophistication and panache of their Dutch counterparts, it is apparent that they embraced an entirely different aesthetic -- quieter, more contemplative and satisfying in its own right. |