The Attributes of Art - Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin

A masterful 1766 still life by Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin, featuring a collection of artistic tools and a plaster cast of Mercury.

Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin painted The Attributes of Art in 1766, a work commissioned by Catherine the Great of Russia. This composition belongs to a series of allegorical still lifes that examine the tools and symbols associated with various disciplines. Chardin arranges a collection of objects on a wooden table, including a plaster cast of Edme Bouchardon's Mercury, a painter's palette, brushes, portfolios, and architectural drawings. The inclusion of the Cross of the Order of Saint Michael, which Chardin received in 1752, adds a personal dimension to the arrangement.

The painting demonstrates Chardin's mastery of light and texture. He employs a muted, earthy palette to render the varied surfaces of the objects, from the smooth, cool plaster of the sculpture to the worn wood of the artist's box and the crisp edges of the paper scrolls. The light enters from the left, creating soft shadows that define the volume of each item. Unlike the more decorative or flamboyant works of his contemporaries, Chardin focuses on the quiet dignity of the objects themselves. The composition is balanced, with the central figure of Mercury providing a vertical anchor amidst the horizontal spread of books and tools.

Chardin was known for his ability to elevate humble subjects through careful observation and a disciplined application of paint. In this work, he avoids unnecessary ornamentation, preferring to let the interplay of light and shadow describe the form. The painting reflects the intellectual climate of the eighteenth century, where the study of the arts and sciences was held in high regard. By grouping these specific items, Chardin creates a visual inventory of the creative process, presenting the tools of the trade as objects worthy of contemplation in their own right.