Still Life with a Rummer and Pastry, 1634

The Dutch ‘onbijtjes’ (‘breakfasts’) are representations of tables covered with a wide range of food and drink, fine cutlery, utensils and dishes and jugs, all of which are displayed on expensive linen against a neutral background. In a ‘banketje’ (‘banquet’), the display is even more lavish, often including pies and oysters, and costly objects in precious metals or Chinese porcelain. These depictions in no way reflect what the average citizen used in daily life. Heda’s paintings are distinguished by their brown and grey, metallic colouring, for which reason they are called ‘monochrome banketjes’. Certain objects crop up time and time again, such as the pewter pitchers and bowls, cutlery, silverware such as tazzas, and fruits like the half-peeled lemon. Pies and hams also feature on the menu of ‘permanent’ ingredients.