A descriptive account of Jan Davidsz de Heem's "Still Life with Fruit and Oysters", paying particular attention to the organisation and lighting of the composition and to effects of tone and colour.

The still-life shows a tabletop half draped with rich pieces of fabric. A metal plate holds oysters. One appears to have fallen on the table alongside some prawns and a stem of berries. Empty shells are seen toward the rear. Around the plate are placed a crusty bread loaf and various fruits including a halved peach still containing the pit. Another gold plate contains some cherries. There is a tall gold vessel, two glasses containing …

…daylight emphasising the impression of quality. Gradual merging of colours can be seen on the peaches combining with shadow to create an effect of roundness. The tonal range of the picture is very wide causing dramatic contrasts. The dark background directs the viewer's attention to the various objects. Close individual items appear distinct and very real. The sketchy details and muted colours of items located further into the illusionary plane create a sense of distance.