Two 17th-Century Dutch Still Lifes Acquired by the Getty

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has acquired two 17th-century Dutch still-life paintings by Pieter Claesz and Jan Davidsz. de Heem, masters of the genre. The works, including de Heem's "Vase en verre avec fleurs et fruits," were purchased on the New York art market and fill a gap in the museum's Dutch still-life collection, which previously lacked examples by these two artists.

This acquisition underscores the Getty Museum's ambitious collecting strategy and its commitment to strengthening its holdings of Dutch Golden Age painting. By adding works by Claesz and de Heem, the museum enhances its ability to present a more comprehensive narrative of 17th-century Dutch still-life, complementing existing pieces by artists like Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder and Willem Kalf. The move also signals the continued vitality of the market for Old Master works.