Letter rack

A renowned painter of the Dutch Golden Age, Edwaert Collier established a strong reputation in his home country, as well as in the British art market in London. A highly skilled painter of vanitas and tromp l’oeil, Collier is often credited with introducing these Dutch traditions to England at a time when the locally made art was dominated by portraiture.

Collier has artfully composed his painting to give the appearance of each of the items being tucked behind the leather straps of the letter rack, these items including a mixture of the everyday, along with some more unusual objects. Several fine examples of Collier’s paintings of letter racks are held in museums around the world and have elements in common with AGSA’s work, such as the letter opener, newspapers and comb. In addition to the assortment of everyday items, this work includes a woodwind instrument and musical score, implying a musical focus and suggesting perhaps that it was commissioned by a patron with a passion for music.

Tansy Curtin, Curator, International Art pre-1980