Flowers in a Vase

Artistattributed to Jacob van Walscapelle (Dutch, 1644–1727)

Datelate 17th–early 18th century

Mediumoil on panel

Dimensionspanel: 40 x 29.5 cm (15 3/4 x 11 5/8 in.)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineEliza Sturgis Paine Fund in memory of William R. and Frances T. C. Paine

Terms

Object number1956.18

Label TextWalscapelle, who was born in Dordrecht, moved to Amsterdam where he specialized in painting flower and fruit pieces. Houbraken reports that Walscapelle gave up painting for a new profession. This seems to have been the case; from 1673 until his death he worked as an official of the city of Amsterdam. Moreover, very few of his works bear later dates. The conception of this still life is similar to those painted by Walscapelle, but, since the painting does not have the coherent surface, the spatial organization, the delicacy, nor the precision of the artist's signed pieces, the attribution remains a tentative one. Perhaps Walscapelle painted this picture after he switched professions and lost his touch. The composition of the picture supports this hypothesis: the open arrangement of the flowers has more in common with the Rococo design of eighteenth-century flower pieces than with the more compact organization of the still lifes that Walscapelle painted before he began working for the municipality of Amsterdam in 1673.ProvenanceArthur de Heuvel Gallery, Brussels

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