TRECK, Jan Jansz.

(b. ~1606 Amsterdam, d. 1652 Amsterdam)

Dutch painter, pupil of his brother-in-law, Jan Jansz. van den Uyl (¹⁵⁹⁵⁄₆-¹⁶³⁹⁄₄₀). After Van den Uyl’s sudden death in 1640, he acted as guardian of his children and executor of his estate. He specialized in still-lifes and was much influenced by the style of Uyl, Claesz and Heda. Works by the artist are rare; Vroom records just fifteen autograph pictures with dated works between 1644 and 1651 indicating a fairly brief period of activity.

Still-Life

The objects depicted in this still-life were perhaps in the possession of the painter, since the pewter jug, the tall beer glass and the porcelain bowl occur in various other paintings by him, in various combinations and compositions.

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Vanitas Still-Life

This painting belongs to the category of vanitas still lifes, which contain objects intended to cause the viewer to reflect on the inevitability of mortality and the consequent foolishness of all human ambition. They include a skull wreathed in straw, an hourglass, an extinguished pipe and tapers, musical instruments (a flute, a viol and bow), a black lacquer box and a Rhenish stoneware jug (both collectors’ items), a book of music and a drawing, a shell and a straw used for blowing bubbles, and a helmet. The title-page is of a play by Theodore Rodenburgh (about 1578-1644) which was published in Amsterdam in 1618; it can be translated into English as ‘Evil is its own reward’.

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