(Lille 1636–1699 London)
A still life of flowers with anemones, roses and lilies in a bronze vase,
oil on canvas, 120 x 98 cm, framed

A certificate by Claudia Salvi is available.

This large still life is an impressive example of the elegant and decorative style developed by Monnoyer. Combining individual blossoms regardless of their respective blooming seasons and solely because of their chromatic brilliance, he sought to emphasise the harmonyof white, blue, red and pink. The painterly and sensuous rendering of the flowers is in contrast to the meticulous depiction of the surface of the Medici vase, which is decorated with mythological scenes.

Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer studied history painting in Antwerp. Around 1650 he went to Paris, where he collaborated with Charles Le Brun in the decoration of numerous royal palaces. Having been admitted to the Academy in 1665, he exhibited four flower still lifes at the Salon in 1673 and rapidly established himself as a master in this genre. He developed a sumptuous baroque style that was paralleled in contemporary Italian still life painting. He was a favourite of the Sun King, who owned a large number of the artist’s paintings and drawings.