Kalf was perhaps the most influential painter of luxurious still lifes from the 1650s onward, although few other artists approached his refinement. Here the effects of light, texture, and color make the painting itself an object of rare craftsmanship, like the Turkish table carpet, the silver tray, and the late Ming bowl. The fruits have been worn and toned down by past cleanings, and the whole painting has darkened with age.

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