Skip to Main Content
  Navigation Menu
      Admission is always free

          Open today:10:00  to 5:00
          Directions
           Play Artle
        Visit
      Visit
          
            Getting Here
          
            Accessibility
          
            Tours, Guides & Maps
          
            Food & Drink
          
            Gallery Shops
          
            Visitor Policies
  
  Collection
      Collection
          
            Highlights
          
            Search the Collection
          
            Artists Search
          
            Acquisition Highlights
          
            Stories
          
            Games
  
  Exhibitions
      Exhibitions
          
            Current
          
            Special Installations
          
            Upcoming
          
            On Tour
          
            Past
  
  Calendar
      Calendar
          
            Films
          
            Performances
          
            Talks
          
            Guided Tours
          
            After Hours
          
            Fun for Kids
          
            Festivals
          
            Workshops
  
  Learn
      Learn
          
            Teachers
          
            Families
          
            Teens
          
            Adults
          
            Learning Resources
          
            Music Programs
          
            Film Programs
  
  Conservation
      Conservation
          
            Projects
          
            Publications
          
            Resources
  
  Research
      Research
          
            The Center
          
            Publications
          
            Make an Appointment
          
            Archives
          
            Library
          
            NGA Online Editions
  
  Support
      Support
          
            Donate Now
          
            National Membership
          
            Circle Membership
          
            Leadership Groups
          
            Planned Giving
          
            Major Giving
          
            Gifts of Art
  
  Shop
      Shop
          
            Books
          
            Jewelry
          
            Apparel & Accessories
          
            Kids
          
            NGA Custom Prints
  
  Play Artle
            Previous Menu
              


  Search
  Hide Menu
  
  Home>Plan Your Visit>Tours, Guides, and Maps>Self-Guided Tours>Audio Stop 403
      

      
      Search Audio Stop 403
 Your browser does not support this audio player. play pause skip backward 15 seconds skip forward 30 seconds
 On a tabletop spread with an ivory-white cloth, plates, and white porcelain bowls containing sweets, fruit, olives, and a cooked fowl are arranged around the largest platter, which holds the head, wings, and tail of a peacock stuck into a tall, baked pie, in this horizontal still life painting. The front, left corner of the table is near the lower left corner of the painting, so the tabletop extends off the right side of the composition. The white tablecloth lies over a second cloth underneath, which is only visible along the right edge. The cloth underneath has a leafy, geometric pattern in burgundy red against a lighter, rose-red background. The peacock pie is set near the back of the table, to our right, so it fills the upper right quadrant of the composition. The bird holds a pink rose in its beak. In front of it, near the lower right corner of the painting, a white porcelain bowl painted with teal-green floral and geometric designs holds about ten pieces of pale yellow and blush-red fruit. A pewter plate next to it, to our left, holds dried fruit and baked, stick-like sweets, some covered with white sugar. A pile of salt sits atop a gold, square vessel between the sweets and the peacock pie. Another blue-patterned, white porcelain bowl filled with green olives sits near the back of the table next to a lidded, pewter pitcher with a long spout. Other pewter plates hold a baked fowl, like a small chicken, and, closest to us, a partially cut lemon with its peel curling off the plate. Nuts, more fruit, an ivory-handled knife, bread rolls, and flat biscuits sit on the white cloth among the plates. One glass with a wide stem covered in nubs and a flaring bowl sits near the back, left corner of the table, filled with a pale yellow liquid. An empty glass lies with the upper rim on another pewter plate, to our left. Also on the plate is a bunched up white napkin and a leather case for the knife. The background behind the still life is brown.
 Pieter Claesz *Still Life with Peacock Pie*, 1627 Read full audio transcriptStill Life with Peacock Pie by Pieter Claesz, painted in 1627. Oil on panel. The painting is about 2 and a half feet high by over 4 feet wide. 
This description is about 4 minutes long.
An assortment of dishes with sweets, fruit, and game, as well as utensils and glasses, are spread out along a table covered by a white cloth. Most striking is a pie topped by a peacock’s head, wings, and tail at the back right corner of the table. 
The front left corner of the table fits into the bottom corner of the painting, making it feel close to us. The table extends off the right edge of the composition. Most of the table is covered by a white tablecloth, with creases where it has been previously folded. It stops short of the right edge, where another cloth beneath it is patterned with a brick-red trellis against a salmon pink background. 
The table is set against a dark brown background. 
Now let’s work our way across the table from left to right. 
At the back left corner is a glass containing pale, straw-colored wine. The glass has a wide, flaring bowl and a thick stem with raised glass knobs. The wine in the glass casts a golden light onto the white tablecloth to the right. Standing to the right of the glass is a spouted pewter pitcher. It reflects the wineglass, as well as light from windows out of our view.  
In front of the glass and pitcher are three pewter plates. The dish at left holds a crumpled white napkin and a tubular carrying case for a knife. Another thick-stemmed glass – empty this time – lies on its side, its rim resting on the plate. Two flat, round bread rolls, one of them broken and half eaten, sit on the tabletop in front of this plate. 
A larger dish closer to the pitcher holds a small roasted bird, with browned skin. An ivory-handled knife rests with the blade on the rim of this plate. In front, on the smaller dish, are two lemons. One is whole, the other has been cut so the peel curls off the edge of the plate.
To the right of the roast bird is the peacock pie on a pewter platter. The tall, round pie has a golden-brown crust. A peacock head and feathers have been inserted to resemble the living bird. At left, the sea-green head and neck are upright, with a pink rose in the beak. The wings have been spread out, with long golden plumes above and smaller, fluffier dove gray feathers at the base. The golden tail feathers, with their deep blue eyes, extend into the top right of the composition. 
A few more dishes and foodstuffs are clustered around the pie; these include a blue and white porcelain dish of green olives to the left and slightly behind the pie. In front of the pie a little square gold vessel is piled with salt flakes.
Two more dishes are placed in front of the pie, near the front edge of the table. At left is a pewter dish of assorted candies. Some are white sugar-coated tubes or bonbons. Some look like pastries or cookies. Others appear to be red candied fruits. 
Finally, at the far right, a white porcelain bowl is painted with a dark green pattern. The bowl contains shiny, pale gold and pink apples and smaller peaches, still with their leaves. Two peaches, a few nuts, and a round bread roll lie on the tabletop nearby. West Building Verbal Descriptions
 Enter stop number 
 Stop not found. Please try a different number.








Stay connected Learn more about our exhibitions, news, programs, and special offers.
 Email Address for National Gallery newsletter subscription


About About the National Gallery
    
        Stories
    
        Press
    
        FAQs
    
        Contact Us
 Plan a Visit Getting Here
    
        Accessibility
    
        Today's Tours
    
        Food & Drink
    
        Calendar
    
        Downloadable Map
 Get Involved Donate
    
        Membership
    
        Volunteer
    
        Opportunities
    
        Shop Online
 Resources Search the Collection
    
        Conservation
    
        Library
    
        Archives
    
        The Center
    
        Film Programs
    
        Music Programs
    
        Audio/Video
    
        Open Access Images


Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily West Building6th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter or exit from Constitution Avenue, 4th Street, or 7th Street. The Madison Drive entrance is currently closed. East Building4th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter and exit from 4th Street. Sculpture Garden7th St and Constitution Ave NWEnter and exit from 7th Street, Constitution Avenue, or Madison Drive. We are closed on December 25 and January 1.
 The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.


Twitter
          Facebook
          Instagram
		      Pinterest
          YouTube
 © 2024 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy