Pieter Claesz.

Still Life with a Salt, c.1640–45, Oil on panel, 52.6 cm x 44.1 cm, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Bequeathed by Daniël Crena de Iongh, Wilton, Connecticut, SK-A-4839, Courtesy of Rijksmuseum

Worth your Salt

Commentary by Anna Gannon

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Painted by Pieter Claesz in a subdued chromatic palette, Still Life with a Salt (c.1640–45) shows ‘breakfast’ set on a white tablecloth at the end of a narrow table. In this deceptively simple composition, reflections and plays of light and shade skilfully convey depth of field. Just a few items are assembled, seemingly casually arranged: a large rummer, filled with beer and studded with prunts to provide a firm grip; a small bread loaf and some salmon, garnished with parsley, on pewter plates; an empty plate in the background; a bejewelled knife; some hazelnuts; and a tall, hexagonal pewter cellar.

The cellar, heaped with salt, is monumental, and commands our attention. It declares the huge economic importance of salt in the prosperity of the Dutch Republic: salt was needed in great quantities for preserving herrings at sea, curing meat and fish, and for cheese- and butter-making. Having exhausted local resources, the quest expanded to other areas. The semi-industrial exploitation of the salt flats of the Cape Verde Islands (Cabo Verde) and Caribbean saw bloody wars fought over them against Spain, which, with the destruction of nature and abuses of slavery in the salt-works, give us the true cost of such a commodity.

Pieter Claesz’s painting is nowadays read by many people not so much as an exquisite proclamation of the wealth of the Dutch Golden Age, but as sober reminder of the terrible evils of greed and slavery.

However, redemption is possible: the cup and bread may allude to the Eucharist, while the bread and the fish remind us of another breakfast, prepared by Jesus by the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:9). In this key, we see a joyful celebration of the beauty of light as captured by the painter, and are invited to imagine salt as it should be, when not commodified for commercial gain: the glistening free gift of God.

See full exhibition for Matthew 5:13–16; Mark 4:21–25; 9:49–50; Luke 8:16–18; 14:34–35

Matthew 5:13–16; Mark 4:21–25; 9:49–50; Luke 8:16–18; 14:34–35

Revised Standard Version

Matthew 5

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. 15Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Mark 4

21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24And he said to them, “Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

49For every one will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Luke 8

16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. 18Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

34 “Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? 35It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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