Still life c.1650

In this luminous painting, an abundance of fruit appears like a revelation — a glowing celebration of God’s bounty. In the seventeenth century, the religious symbolism of each fruit would have been quickly understood. Grapes occupy a prominent position as they signify wine and symbolise the blood of Christ. The pumpkin, with its many seeds and rapid rate of growth, was often interpreted as a symbol for the spread of the Christian faith. Pomegranates were affiliated with regeneration, fertility and abundance, while peaches were regarded as a subspecies of apple, associated with temptation and victory over sin.

In the foreground, tiny lemon seeds alongside a shrivelled grape mirror the cycle of life and death. This expressive language formed the basis of the memento mori genre of painting, reminding us always of the transience of existence.

These highly detailed still-lifes often included exotic fruit from around the world. Antwerp was a wealthy trading port at this time; boats docked in its harbours carried goods from across Europe, Asia and the Americas.