The artwork “Prunkstilleben” by Adalbert Schaffer, completed in the year 1857, is an exemplar of the Academicism movement in art. As a genre, this piece is categorized as a still life, which is an artistic depiction of inanimate subjects, often common objects which may be either natural (like food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or man-made (like glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, and so on).
Upon examination of the artwork, one can observe a lush arrangement of objects carefully composed to convey a sense of opulence and meticulous detail. The painting showcases an assembly of gilded items, including a tall candlestick, an ornate trophy-shaped vessel, and intricately designed ewers with delicate patterns. These luxurious items are set against a rich, dark background and a draped maroon cloth, which adds depth and contrast to the composition.
A variety of ripe, succulent grapes, both white and dark, are draped over the golden vessels, their spheroid shapes glistening as if touched by a soft light. Amongst the grapes are interspersed leaves with a lifelike texture, and catching the viewer’s attention at the composition’s heart is a stack of vibrant fruits. A peach with a rosy blush complements the color palette alongside rich, multi-hued flowers that provide a visual softness in contrast to the metallic hardness of the vessels.
The artist has executed the composition with a high level of realism, capturing reflections, textures, and subtle variations in light and shadow. The warm tones throughout the piece, combined with the use of light, create a radiant, almost tangible presence that invites viewers to admire the beauty and craftsmanship of both the depicted objects and the painting itself. Each element within “Prunkstilleben” has been rendered with careful precision, a hallmark of Academic art, which often emphasised polished technique and highly finished works.
