Gerard Hoet

GERARD HOET (Zaltbommel, 1648 - The Hague, 1733)
"Cat in the pantry".
Oil on canvas.
Relined.
Signed on the barrel.
Measurements: 88 x 109 cm; 107 x 128 cm (frame).

Magnificent still life of Dutch Baroque tradition, in which Gerard Hoet displays a refined mastery of composition and light treatment. The scene presents a table abundantly arranged with game, poultry, vegetables and kitchen utensils, enlivened by the presence of a cat that introduces a narrative and dynamic element.

The careful arrangement of the elements, together with the chiaroscuro and the richness of textures -from the animals' fur to the earthenware and vegetables-, refers to the tradition of 17th century hunting and cooking still lifes in the Netherlands. The work combines technical virtuosity with a symbolic undertone alluding to abundance and the transience of life, in line with the moralizing sensibility of the Dutch Baroque.

Gerard Hoet was a Dutch painter. Trained in Utrecht and later settled in The Hague, he developed a prolific career centered mainly on historical, mythological and allegorical scenes, although he also cultivated other genres with remarkable solvency. In addition to his pictorial activity, Hoet is known for his work as an art historian, being the author of important compilations on Dutch painters. His work reflects the transition to a more restrained classicism within the Dutch art scene after the full Baroque.

He is currently represented in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Getty Center in Los Angeles, among many other collections.