The artwork “The Silver Tureen,” created by Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin around 1728, is an oil on canvas epitomizing the still life genre. It belongs to the Baroque art movement and has a notable presence in its current location at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, NY, US. The dimensions of this piece measure 76.2 by 108 cm. The composition, which Chardin carefully crafted, presents a rich display of objects which invite contemplation about their textural and material qualities.
In the artwork, a variety of objects rest against a dark, neutral background, laying out a scene typical of Chardin’s meticulous still life paintings. At the center sits a sizeable silver tureen with a reflective surface, showcasing Chardin’s skill in rendering different materials and the effects of light. Adjacent to the tureen lies a game bird, possibly a hare, adding an element of life—or a reminder of mortality—to the composition. Its fur is depicted with fine detail and softness, contrasting with the sheen of the metal tureen. On the right side of the tureen, a selection of fruits, including what appears to be an orange and other citruses, provide a pop of organic color. Their shapes and colors offset the metallic tone of the centerpiece. On the foreground, to the left of the hare, a cat is portrayed in a dynamic, almost playful pose, enhancing the liveliness of an otherwise inanimate array. The inclusion of the cat also introduces a narrative element to the scene, as it eyes the game bird, perhaps signaling a tension between the animate and inanimate, between domesticity and wildness. This interplay of textures, the contrast between the gleaming surfaces and the softness of organic forms, and the suggestion of a narrative beyond the mere depiction of objects, are characteristic of Chardin’s masterful still life compositions, which capture not only the physical but also the sensual and ephemeral qualities of the material world.