Still Life of Fish on the Shore at Egmond aan Zee

Van Beijeren was commissioned in 1649 by the fishermen’s guild to paint a votive tablet for the church of Maassluis. The inscription of that picture gives thanks to God for the richness of the sea and asks for His help against the waves and the raids of pirates. The paintings, which are framed by carved and gilt cartouches and Corinthian columns, represent seascapes with fishermen’s boats, and still lifes of hooked fish of various species in four fields. The closing sentence of the text reminds the reader of the fact that fishermen although simple people, make a decent living from their jobs, and that Jesus chose his first disciples from
among them.