Write a descriptive account of Jan Davidsz de Heem's Still Life with Fruit and Oysters, paying partiular attention to the organisation and lighting of the composition and to the effects of tone and colour.
...background, the subject matter on the table dominates the painting with a wide tonal range, from almost phosphorescent or virginally pure white fabric and aphrodisiacal oysters, to the vivid and bold passionate red of the berries. The light source, beaming from the lower left hand side of the painting is confirmed by the shadows and subtle graduations of shading on the half eaten fruit and on the bread. The origin of the light is also reflected in the domed glass receptable. There is a three dimensional feel to the composition which is enhanced by the shading of the objects which are all disinct from each other and have clear, sharp edges, especially those closest to the light. Sense of touch is evoked by the rounded quality of the fruit, achieved by both the shading and brush strokes of the artist. The background wall achieves its efect by dark colours and mottled strokes of the brush compared to the detail of the fruit which has been painted using a smaller brush and tiny brush strokes. The ...