Emblematic Still Life with Flagon, Glass, Jug and Bridle

Johannes Torrentius painted this still life on a copper support of around 50cm in diameter, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. Copper, as a material, enabled Torrentius to achieve an incredible level of detail and a luminous quality not easily attained on canvas. Look closely, and you'll see how he has captured the textures of various objects, from the cool sheen of the metal flagon, to the reflective surface of the glass, and the coarse clay of the jug. The items depicted - a bridle, a musical score, and drinking vessels - evoke the pleasures of life, but also remind us of their fleeting nature. The bridle perhaps suggests the need for restraint, while the music speaks to harmony and order. Yet these are juxtaposed with the sensual indulgence of wine, presented in meticulously rendered containers. The making of this painting, like the crafts represented within it, points to a society grappling with moral questions. The incredible skill deployed serves to ennoble these otherwise humble objects, elevating craft to the level of high art.