Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill
The Met
Artist: Pieter Claesz(Dutch, Berchem? 1596/97–1660 Haarlem)
Date: 1628
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on wood
Dimensions: 9 1/2 x 14 1/8 in. (24.1 x 35.9 cm)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1949
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A human skull, oil lamp, books, quill, and goblet on a surface against a dark background.
Detailed Description
A collection of objects is arranged on a light gray-brown surface against a deep, dark background. Dominating the center is a large, light brown human skull, positioned in profile facing left, resting on a stack of two books. The top book has a dark brown cover, and beneath the skull, a light blue-green sheet of paper is visible, slightly crumpled. A white feather quill pen lies diagonally across the paper and the top book, its tip pointing towards the lower left. To the left of the skull, a terracotta-colored oil lamp with a handle stands on a pedestal, emitting a faint wisp of smoke upwards. Below the lamp, on the table surface, are a black inkwell and a dark pen holder. To the right of the skull, a dark, ornate glass or goblet lies on its side, its rim facing the viewer, reflecting light from an unseen source. Faint white text is visible on the dark background to the right of the skull, reading "P. H. / 1622".
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
