Writing Desk with a small Chest and a Fruit Bowl

Born in Almagro, Camprobín trained for five years in Toledo with Luis Tristán. By 1628 he was in Seville where he attained the status of independent master in 1630, remaining there until his death. Within the genre of still lifes, the two canvases that form this pair are large in size. This fact, combined with their horizontal format, suggests that they were made as over-doors or over-windows. It would seem that Camprobín painted them during his early years in Seville, around 1630. This early date is suggested by a number of features such as the flat table top on a single spatial plane, the objects arranged symmetrically and in horizontal lines and the overall balance of the composition. In addition, the lighting falls from the left and creates shadows, lighting up the foreground and leaving the background in darkness whereas in other works by Camprobín the backgrounds are illuminated. In addition, the way in which the books are placed in the foreground is characteristic of the first third of the 17th century while the objects themselves are typical of the start of the second third of that century. Within the context of a generally restrained, harmonious composition Camprobín reveals his ability to paint different textures and surfaces, for example the ribbon of the key to the box on top of the small chest, which allows him to depict transparent effects. Presenting the table and objects in a slightly oblique perspective, the artist fills one side of the composition with fruit and the fruit bowl, suggesting that these two canvases may have been designed to hang opposite each other rather than side by side.