Sprig of White Currants with Insects

Jan van Kessel (I), c. 1653 - c. 1661

This scene is painted on a copper panel. Its smooth surface was well suited to meticulous and detailed finish. Van Kessel made dozens of such little ‘coppers’ of insects and other animals, which he would arrange in a larger composition. They may have also served as decorative panels for a small cabinet of curiosities.

Artwork typepainting
Object numberSK-A-793
Dimensionssupport: height 10.9 cm x width 14.6 cm, outer size: height 20.1 cm x width 23.6 cm x depth 2.5 cm (support incl. frame)
Physical characteristicsoil on copper

Identification

Title(s)
- Sprig of White Currants with Insects
- Sprig of White Currant with Insects
Object type
Object number
SK-A-793
Description
Insecten en vruchten. Een takje witte aalbessen, met verschillende soorten kevers, torren, vliegen en vlinders. In drie rijen van links naar rechts (en van boven naar beneden): zandloopkever, schrijvertje, vlieg, boktor, langpootmug, beervlinder, rups van de bonte bessenvlinder, argusvlinder, bonte bessenvlinder, vlieg, vuurwants, een haft of eendagsvlieg.
Inscriptions / marks
- signature, bottom centre: ‘I·V·KESSEL·F·’
- inscription, on the reverse: ‘6’
Part of catalogue

Creation

Creation
painter: Jan van Kessel (I)
Dating
c. 1653 - c. 1661
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Material and technique

Physical description
oil on copper
Material
Dimensions
- support: height 10.9 cm x width 14.6 cm
- outer size: height 20.1 cm x width 23.6 cm x depth 2.5 cm (support incl. frame)

This work is about

Subject

Exhibitions

Acquisition and rights

Acquisition
purchase 1882
Copyright
Public domain
Provenance
…; sale, Dr P.A. Borger (†) (Arnhem), H. Joosten (1818-82, Haarlem), Amsterdam (F. Muller), 13 November 1882, no. 55, fl. 71;{Copy RKD, formerly owned by Victor de Stuers; it is illegibly inscribed against this lot, but no. 55 is one in the list of lots written by him on the end paper. A label on the reverse identifies the picture as from the Borger/Josten sale, and as no. 239 of the inventory, without giving further details.} acquired by the museum, February 1884;{NHA, ARS, IS, inv. 164, no. 192 (24 February 1883); NHA, ARS, IS, inv. 164, no. 236 (14 February 1884); NHA, ARS, Kop, inv. 39, p. 342, no. 10 (26 February 1884).} on loan to the Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, 2004-08

Documentation

Persistent URL

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:
https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20013605