Peaches, plums, apricots, grapes, pears, blackberries, sheafs of corn, chestnuts, walnuts, medlars, cherries and a pomegranate with a snail, a butterfly, a grasshopper and a caterpillar by a plinth

Jan Mortel was a pupil of Jan Porcellis van Delden, grandson of the marine painter, in Leiden, and became a member of the guild there in 1675. His early output was strongly influenced by the work of Jan Davidsz. de Heem and is characterised by strong colours, and dramatic lighting; later in his career, Mortel became influcenced by Abraham Mignon. Indeed Fred Meijer has shown that in circa 1707-8 he actually borrowed elements directly from a picture by Mignon now in the Gemäldegalerie Dresden, for his own pictures (see F. Meijer, The Collection of Dutch and Flemish still life paintings bequeathed by Daisy Linda Ward, Zwolle, 2003, p. 259). The impact of Mignon's influence is evident in the present work which can be counted as one of the most sumptuous still lifes known of Mortel's oeuvre. The outdoor setting, the rich tonality and meticulous rendition of detail are all reminiscent of Mignon and suggest a similar dating for the present picture to circa 1708-10.