Peter Willebeeck

[3] Willebeeck painted fruit still lifes, vanitas still lives, pronkstillevens and banquet pieces.

This painting was originally at the Harrach Gallery in Vienna and was last auctioned on 18 January 1983 at Christie's New York.

[3] Many of his still lifes reference the theme of vanitas and the transience of earthly glory and pleasure.

It shows precious objects to refer to ideas of vanities and hollowness: the fallen rummer, the silver candle holder, tazza and Westerwald jug are all empty, the lighted cigar is about to go out, the pipe is finished and there is no further life in the shell.

[2][6] As was common in Antwerp at the time, Willebeeck collaborated with other painters, who were specialists in a particular genre.