Clara Peeters, Still life with cheeses, bread and drinking utensils from the old master collection

Still life with cheeses, almonds and pretzels is a painting by Clara Peeters. The painting was probably painted circa 1615.[1] The painting is a still life, painted with oil on a panel. The panel is 34.5 cm high and 49.5 cm wide. Clara Peeters signed her work[2] in the hilt of the knife. The painting hangs in the Mauritshuis in The Hague. Clara Peeters specialised in still lifes with beautiful objects, delicious fruits and precious food. This type of still life is also called "banquet". The symbolism of such paintings is not fully known. It could be an encouragement to temperance, or a reference to the Last Supper. But the painting could also simply represent opulence and wealth. This painting shows butter curls, figs and a loaf of bread in addition to the objects in the title. In the background is a gilded Venetian glass. The almonds and figs lie on a platter of Chinese Wanli porcelain. Peeters often used the objects in this painting in her banquets. In the reflecting lid of the pitcher (a bearded jug) behind the cheese, Clara Peeters painted her own portrait. She thereby followed the example of Jan van Eyck, who in 1434 depicted his self-portrait in his famous double portrait of the Arnolfini couple.[3] Clara Peeters did this more often; there are 7 paintings by her known with her self-portrait.