Franz Werner von Tamm – Still life with flowers, fruits and a rabbit Liechtenstein Museum (Vienna)

The composition presents a lavish still life arrangement set against a backdrop of muted landscape. A substantial rock formation dominates the central space, acting as both a physical and compositional anchor for the abundance of natural elements displayed before it. The artist has positioned an array of fruits – pomegranates, grapes, peaches, pears, and melons – in profusion across the foreground, their textures rendered with meticulous attention to detail. These are interspersed with blossoms, including what appear to be chrysanthemums and other flowering plants, adding a layer of visual complexity and color variation.

A rabbit is placed on the left side of the arrangement, seemingly engaged in consuming a pomegranate seed. Its presence introduces an element of potential disruption or transience into the otherwise static scene of abundance. The animal’s inclusion subtly hints at themes of consumption and the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures.

The color palette leans towards warm tones – reds, oranges, yellows – which contribute to a sense of richness and vitality. However, these are tempered by darker greens and browns in the foliage and rock face, creating a balance between vibrancy and somberness. The light source appears to originate from the left, casting shadows that enhance the three-dimensionality of the objects and contributing to the overall dramatic effect.

Beyond the purely decorative aspects, the painting evokes associations with vanitas imagery common in earlier periods. The combination of luscious fruits, delicate flowers, and the presence of a rabbit – a traditional symbol of fertility but also prey – suggests a meditation on mortality and the ephemeral nature of beauty and abundance. The rock formation itself can be interpreted as representing permanence against the backdrop of decay implied by the perishable elements within the composition. The landscape visible behind the still life hints at an expansive world beyond the immediate scene, further emphasizing the transient quality of the depicted objects.