Philippe Rousseau, 'Still Life with Oysters', probably 1875-87

A collection of oysters is grouped around a glass of wine. A few closed mussels have been added at the left, with a single open shell depicted at the right. Behind the oysters stands a squat bottle with a cork in its neck. Too short to be a wine bottle, it perhaps contains olive oil. The surface on which the shells, bottle and glass are set is indeterminate, and merges into the sombre background.

This group of objects reflects the influence of still lifes by the eighteenth-century artist Chardin. There was a revival of interest in Chardin’s work in the nineteenth century, and the still lifes became very important to Rousseau: in 1861 he painted a tribute to the master, Chardin and his Models (Musée d’Orsay, Paris).

The surroundings are painted thinly and sketchily in contrast to the more detailed handling of the objects themselves, all of which reflect light. The reflections in the glass of wine echo the glistening oysters. A knife rests on the glass, delicate touches of white paint highlighting the silver band around the dark handle and the sliver of light caught by the blade that disappears into the gloom. The subtle blue and white highlights of the iridescent mussel shell add a welcome contrast to the overall low-key, earthy tonality.This is considered a late work, and may be the painting entitled A Still Life with Oysters which was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1876.