plate no. 1198

The Silver Goblet

Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin, 1728

oil, canvasRococostill lifestill lifegobletbottlefruitcherriestable

From the record

Dimensions: 42.9 cm high × 48.3 cm wide
Institution: Saint Louis Art Museum
Location: Saint Louis Art Museum
Inception: 1728
Materials: oil paint, canvas

Wikidata item Q78743964

from the sources

The painting is a still life composed of everyday household objects. frenchart.umsl.edu
“Ce tableau est une nature morte. Il est composé d’objets quotidiens que l’on trouverait dans une maison, mais pas dans une maison de paysans.”
The silver goblet and glass carafe, rather than earthenware, indicate a high social status. frenchart.umsl.edu
“Le gobelet d’argent et la carafe de verre, au lieu de vaisselle en terre, reflètent un statut social élevé.”
The objects depicted belonged to the artist himself. frenchart.umsl.edu
“Les objets appartenaient à l’artiste lui-même.”
The painter is interested in the play of light and reflections on the smooth surfaces of silver, glass and fruit. frenchart.umsl.edu
“Le peintre s’intéresse au jeu de la lumière et aux reflets sur les surfaces lisses de l’argent, du verre et des fruits.”
Chardin is regarded as an heir to the Dutch-influenced still-life tradition and was interested in the forms and textures of objects rather than their symbolic importance. frenchart.umsl.edu
“Il s’est intéressé aux formes et aux textures des objets, plutôt qu’à leur importance symbolique.”

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and placement of the objects on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background tones with thin washes of brown and grey.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the goblet, bottle, and fruit, focusing on their overall shapes.
step 04
Begin to refine the shapes and add details, paying attention to highlights and shadows.
step 05
Mix and apply subtle color variations to create the illusion of form and depth.
step 06
Carefully render the reflective surfaces of the goblet and bottle, noting the light sources.
step 07
Add the final details, such as the stems of the cherries and the texture of the fruit.
step 08
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white · cadmium red light

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Mix various shades of brown and grey by combining raw umber, ivory black, and titanium white. Use small amounts of cadmium red and yellow ochre to create the colors of the fruit. Add ultramarine blue to the grey mixtures to create the cool tones in the goblet.

techniques