Artist: Johann Georg Hinz / Hainz
Year: 1666
Medium: Oil on canvas
The Hamburg painter Hinz was already known for his still lifes during his lifetime. The “Kunstkammer” shelf represents a unique variation within this genre and depicts a condensed version of a cabinet of curiosities. Since the Renaissance, nobles and wealthy citizens had collected natural objects such as shells or pearls (naturalia), technical instruments (scientificia), and artistic artifacts (artificialia) in these chambers; their encyclopedic arrangement served as a model of the world. Some of the objects depicted can be clearly identified. For example, the ivory goblet in the center is now housed at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg. With its exact rendering of the objects, the painting gives the viewer the impression of real objects. Hinz painted several versions of this theme, varying the objects depicted in each. The Hamburg painting was intended for the Danish royal family. The medallion hanging on the right side of the middle shelf features a portrait of Christian IV of Denmark.
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