Jacob van Es

Jacob van Es painted still lifes of breakfast and banquet foods: oysters, lobsters, fish, bread, olives, fruit and cheese, set out with glasses and silver on a table edge. His colour is rich and his lighting dramatic, bringing out the gleam of wet shells and polished metal.

He was born in Antwerp around 1596 and became a master in the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1617. He was one of the first generation of Flemish still life specialists, and about 125 of his works survive. He also painted flowers and worked with other artists on garland pictures. He died in Antwerp in 1666.

Breakfast with Oysters is a good example of his favourite subject, with glistening shells and a half peeled lemon.