A lobster on a blue and white plate, with a partly-peeled lemon on a pewter plate, oysters on a pewter plate, and grapes and peaches in a basket on a partly-draped table, a landscape beyond

We are grateful to Fred Meijer of the RKD for proposing the attribution to Andries Benedetti on the basis of photographs.

Andries Benedetti was a pupil of Vincent Cernevael in 1636 before becoming an apprentice in the studio of Jan Davidsz. de Heem in 1638. The influence of de Heem's use of rich colour effects, with precious objects delicately portrayed, is demonstrated in the present lot. In 1640-1, he became master of the guild of St. Luke in Antwerp before travelling to Italy, where he remained until 1649. Approximately fifteen paintings are located by Benedetti, of which only four are signed.