Still Life
Gaspar Peeter VERBRUGGEN, the elder
(Flemish, 1635-1681)
Still Life
Dateca. 1645-1681
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensionsoverall: 45 1/2 x 28 1/8 in. (115.6 x 71.4 cm)
frame: 46 x 28 1/4 in. (116.8 x 71.8 cm)
ClassificationPAINTINGS
Credit LineSBMA, Gift of Mrs. Constance Fearing
Object number1970.14
Subject(s)
- flowers
- still lifes
Collection
- Old Master
Sub-Collection(s)
- Northern European, Flemish
On View
On viewLabel Text17th-century Flemish artists were often highly specialized. Verbruggen belonged to a family that elected floral still life as its niche subject. This painting, with its plethora of gorgeous blooms bursting forth from a terracotta vase set atop a stone capital, showcases the artist’s illusionistic skills. Verbruggen’s father was also a floral still life specialist, as was his son. While all still life carries with it the vanitas message of life’s transience, opulent flower pictures like this one, would have also appealed to buyers attracted to the wealth signified by such ostentatious flora, preserved perfectly through the technical skills of specialized artists like Verbruggen.
