Luben Bogen and his still lifes

In search of a book about still life, I removed a low -format thin brochure from the shelf - a “pocket” guide to the 1955 Louvre - and was very surprised. On her cover, I found a color reproduction of a picture, the importance of which I learned recently. Of course, this illustration has repeatedly caught my eye, but I perceived it as an element of the cover - and nothing more. Yes, and in the best case, I opened the brochure itself once or twice-the English text was typed in almost non-non-fare, and reproductions are almost all black and white and tiny.

I learned about the picture and its author by accident, reading about Sharden. This is a “still life with a chessboard”, wrote it Luben Bauguin, 1612–1663), a French artist of the 17th century, who is sometimes called the predecessor of Shardin. This work is stored in the Louvre and is considered the most significant among the four Bohen still known to us today.

Lyuben Bogen was re-opened in the early 1930s precisely as the author of still lifes ; Before that, his paintings on biblical plots written in the spirit of French classicism were known.

Bohen did not write still lifes, in the early period of work (1630–1635), and, apparently, did not return to this genre. In the future, he wrote large canvases in the spirit of strict classicism for plots from the Bible. Bogen was recognized, received all the titles and titles laid down to the then artist, but after death for some reason was quickly forgotten.

It should be noted that among the French artists - contemporaries of Bogene, a still life as a genre was not popular. In connection with the boiler, two of his compatriots who worked in the genre of still life: Louise Mollon (1610–1696) and Jacques Linara (1597–1645). Nevertheless, at least three of the four of the well -known still lifes of Bogen stand separately: except for the “still life with a chessboard”, this is a “still life with a candle” and “still life with waffles”.

“Life with a chessboard” has a second name - “Five feelings”; Accordingly, to understand the picture, you need to know the symbolism of the depicted objects. At the same time, as you know, in Christian artistic tradition, symbols are always ambiguous: for example, chess can serve as a symbol of empty pastime, but other interpretations are possible. The same applies to the colors of cloves and wallet.

In general, it seems to me, it is more instructive to understand where the magic of this picture comes from, its mystery ...

“Life with waffles” is no less remarkable, first of all, with conciseity and, of course, skill. Three simple items - a plate with waffles, a glass of wine and a flask -brawl -braided - create a space of cold depth.

The French contemporaries of Bogene - Louise Mollon and Jacques Linar - were, of course, fascinated by abundance and a variety of the objective world. Another contemporary of Bogene, the master of the Dutch still life, Yang Davidsz de Heem, 1606-1683/84), choosing a book , according to his vision, wrote many books. And it seems that it never occurred to anyone to Sharden that three simple objects were enough to express a sense of harmony. But Bogen wrote “Still Life with Waffles” ...