The Silver Tureen 1728

Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin created this oil on canvas still life, “The Silver Tureen,” in France during the 1730s. Chardin, working outside the dominant artistic institutions, became known for humble scenes of middle-class life that celebrated domesticity and the everyday. Here, we see the trappings of a successful household: game, fruit, and a gleaming silver tureen. The placement of these objects, however, creates a tension. The dead hare and birds are rendered in exquisite detail, yet they are clearly destined to become dinner. A cat stares at the dead animal, a reminder of the food chain that supports this lifestyle. The silver tureen symbolizes the wealth that enables such meals. Chardin’s paintings were admired by Enlightenment thinkers like Diderot. They valued his ability to find beauty in simple things. Historians can look to the cultural and economic shifts of the time to understand the rise of the middle class and its impact on artistic tastes. This artwork serves as a reminder that seemingly simple scenes can reveal much about social structures and values.