Still Life with a Roemer and Watch

In 1629 a pocket watch was a luxury, and Willem Claesz. Heda put one at the front of this table, its case sprung open to show the works, a blue ribbon trailing over the edge of the cloth. The rest is what is left of a meal. A fish scattered with capers lies on a broad platter, a lemon has been half peeled so its rind hangs in a spiral, and a bread roll sits among a few cracked hazelnuts. One glass has tipped over against a silver drinking cup, while the tall roemer still holds its wine. Heda kept almost everything in greys and browns and let the light find a different sheen on each material, glass, silver, pewter, crust. He signed and dated the panel on the table edge, and traces of a second signature survive on the knife blade.