Still Life

Schliefer’s Sonatina from Pumpkin Vendor is the culmination of his desire to produce a still life characterised by movement, and is often seen as his signature work. More generally, his still life paintings sparkle and represent his impressionistic vision of the traditional genre.

: Ackee. Oil on cotton, 16″x20″, 1992. Private collection. The national dish of Jamaica, ackee and saltfish, combines elements of Africa (ackee originates in West Africa) with Europe (from where pickled fish was shipped to the colonies as a cheap and easy-to-preserve source of protein).

: Rose allure. 12″x8″, acrylic on cotton, 2020.

: Black rose. 20″x12″, acrylic on cotton, 2020. Private collection.

: Hardo and pear. Oil on canvas, 16″x20″, 1989. “Hard dough” or Hardo bread, an all-time favourite, combined with avocado, known as “pear” in Jamaica. Collection PanAmerican Art Projects

: Still-life with fruit + spoon. Acrylic on paper, 2010. Collection SCS.

: Big sister rose. A painting based on the effects of light and shadow. Oil on linen, 21″ x 8″, 1998. Private collection.

: Jamaican still life with festival, fried fish and bammy. Oil on cotton, 16″ x 20″, 1991. Anyone who thinks of a trip to the beach thinks fried fish, accompanied by festival (a sweet dough, deep fried) or bammy (cassava bread).

: Still life with flowers and bottles. Oil on cotton, 1990. Private collection.

: Verandah. Circa 1969.

: Rosen on blue table. Oil on cotton, 1994. Private collection.

: Sonatina from pumpkin vendor. The title of this, Schliefer’s signature painting, signals his intention to pay tribute to the vendor whose actions in the market inspired him to create a “still life” filled with movement. Considered a seminal painting in Schliefer’s oeuvre. Oil on cotton, 54″ x 54″, 1989. Collection the National Gallery. (The title of this work is often miscited as “sonatina for pumpkin vendor.”)

: Amaryllis with friend. Acrylic on cotton, 24″x14″, 2021. Artist’s collection.

: Valentine wine and roses. Oil on cotton, 33″ x 24″, 1994. Private collection.

: Still life: Roses in winebottles. Oil on linen, 1992. Private collection.

: Still life with flowers and blue jar. Acrylic on cotton, 14″ x 11″, 2018. Private collection.

: Still-life with roses and hisbiscus. Acrylic on linen, 2013. Private collection.

: Mango raid. Oil on cotton, 33″ x 24″, 1993. Private collection.

: Still life with wild flowers. Oil on linen, 14″ x 11″, 1991. Private collection.

: Children with fish and pumpkin, 7″x12″, acrylic on linen, 2014.

: Still life with roses – life and death. Acrylic on cotton, 25″x13″, 2021. Artist’s collection,

: Sonatina with pumpkin, pawpaw, mango, melon. Inspired by the experience of markets in Jamaica, the idea of the still life throbbing with life and movement is explored in a series of paintings, to begin with the “Sonatina for pumpkin vendor” – also featured on this page. Oil on canvas, 1989. Private collection.