LOT DETAILS

Materials:

oil on canvas

Measurements:

47.01 in. (119.40 cm.) (height) by 35.00 in. (88.90 cm.) (width)

Markings:

signed: J. V. Kessel fecit

Condition:

framed

Literature:

K. Ertz, K. Ertz, Die Maler Jan van Kessel, Die Maler Jan van Kessel, Lingen 2012, Lingen 2012, p. 346, p. 346, no. 600, no. 600, Klaus Ertz dates the present painting to the period around 1660. The figures in the present painting were probably executed by Cornelis Schut (1597–1655)., Klaus Ertz dates the present painting to the period around 1660. The figures in the present painting were probably executed by Cornelis Schut (1597–1655)., Jan van Kessel looks back on a well-established Flemish iconography in this richly decorated flower piece. He was a pupil of the Antwerp artist Daniel Seghers, Jan van Kessel looks back on a well-established Flemish iconography in this richly decorated flower piece. He was a pupil of the Antwerp artist Daniel Seghers, whose style he seems to have adopted for the present painting, whose style he seems to have adopted for the present painting, which may also have been influenced by the work of Jan Davidsz. de Heem, which may also have been influenced by the work of Jan Davidsz. de Heem, one of the leading still life painters in Flanders. The flower garland with a stone cartouche in the centre of the composition became a trademark of Daniel Seghers’s painting. An important Flemish pictorial innovation, one of the leading still life painters in Flanders. The flower garland with a stone cartouche in the centre of the composition became a trademark of Daniel Seghers’s painting. An important Flemish pictorial innovation, it can be traced back to the beginning of the seventeenth century and the work of Jan Brueghel the Elder. In his collection in Milan, it can be traced back to the beginning of the seventeenth century and the work of Jan Brueghel the Elder. In his collection in Milan, Cardinal Carlo Borromeo, Cardinal Carlo Borromeo, who was later canonised, who was later canonised, preserved a composition of the Madonna and Child framed by a garland of flowers by Jan Brueghel the Elder. Interestingly, preserved a composition of the Madonna and Child framed by a garland of flowers by Jan Brueghel the Elder. Interestingly, the religious importance of art was discussed in Carlo Borromeo’s circle as much as art’s ability to mimic reality., the religious importance of art was discussed in Carlo Borromeo’s circle as much as art’s ability to mimic reality., The image of the flower garland enclosing a religious motif thus allowed for such pictures to be viewed from both a religious and art-theoretical perspective. Bearing this in mind, The image of the flower garland enclosing a religious motif thus allowed for such pictures to be viewed from both a religious and art-theoretical perspective. Bearing this in mind, we can understand how the present painting would equally have stimulated religious contemplation and a theoretical discourse as to the realism in painting. The former is invited by the biblical image of the shepherds learning about Christ’s birth and by the opulence of the flowers and their individual symbolic meanings as a reflection of the glory of God. The latter is brought about by the dual realities created by the lifeless material of the colourless stone at the centre of the composition and of the contrasting, we can understand how the present painting would equally have stimulated religious contemplation and a theoretical discourse as to the realism in painting. The former is invited by the biblical image of the shepherds learning about Christ’s birth and by the opulence of the flowers and their individual symbolic meanings as a reflection of the glory of God. The latter is brought about by the dual realities created by the lifeless material of the colourless stone at the centre of the composition and of the contrasting, vividly rendered flowers and crawling insects, vividly rendered flowers and crawling insects, which add vitality to the floral garland surrounding the central cartouche., which add vitality to the floral garland surrounding the central cartouche

Provenance:

sale, Campo & Campo, Antwerp, 12 December 2000, lot 605;, Private collection, Belgium