'Red cap' 1857

"Red Cap" is an 1857 oil painting by George Lance, depicting a still life arrangement of a monkey with a red cap, a dead duck, fruit, vegetables and a basket. The monkey sits in the upper right corner with its arm resting on the arrangement below. It is a classic example of a still life, a genre popularized during the Dutch Golden Age that focuses on the realistic portrayal of everyday objects. Lance was known for his still life paintings and he employed a detailed and meticulous style, which is evident in the textured surfaces and the careful arrangement of objects in this piece.