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Nicola van Houbraken
Nicola van Houbraken (Messina, 1668 - Pisa, 1733) (attr.), Flower Vases

XVII Century

About the Item

Nicola van Houbraken (Messina, 1668 - Pisa, 1733)(attr.) Vases de Fleurs (2) Oil on canvas, 58 x 44 cm Framed, 72 x 57 cm Nicola or Nicolino van Houbraken, also known as Nicolino Vanderbrach da Messina or Nicola Messinese, was a celebrated late Baroque Italian painter of Flemish origin. Nicholas was born in Messina to a Flemish father and a local mother. Nicholas's father, Hector (or Hector, who died in 1723), and his grandfather, Joannes (known in sources as John), both hailed from Antwerp and were historical painters and art dealers. After spending his youth in Messina and taking his first steps in the arts in a Sicilian environment, following the anti-Spanish revolt in Sicily and the drastic deterioration of socioeconomic conditions on the island, van Houbraken moved to Livorno in 1676, at the age of 16. In Tuscany, the young Flemish-born artist's fame spread like wildfire: his flowers and still lifes attracted the attention of the governor of Leghorn, his first supporter, and later of the Medici family, whose members figure among the most prestigious patrons of the Belgian-born artist. The Medici were known for their passion for flowers, which originated in the rose and carnation collection of Cosimo de' Medici and Ferdinand II. Nicola Van Houbraken, having reached full artistic maturity, specialized in paintings depicting playful compositions of fruits, vegetables, vegetation, animals and game set in interiors with simple, linear features or in forests. His still lifes are a continuation of the glorious tradition of the works of Otto Marseus van Schrieck, among the earliest representatives of this genre as far as the late Baroque period is concerned. Characteristic of the artist's style are the quick touches of light imprinted on small leaves and the bold brushstrokes depicting flowers neatly so that they are highlighted by the dark background. Nicholas showed precision and technical mastery in portraying various botanical species with extreme realism and naturalness. His compositions are full of charm and a color palette with a preference for icy, crystalline tones, reminiscent of the work of Abraham Brueghel. His still lifes are also influenced by contemporary Tuscan production, with particular reference to the work of members of the Florentine and Lucca schools such as Bartolomeo Bimbi and Andrea Scacciati. It is known that he collaborated with landscape specialists and figure painters in works to which he contributed still life elements. After a flourishing career and winning various awards from members of the Medici family, Van Houbraken died in Livorno in 1724. In this beautiful pair of canvases one can read many of the founding characteristics of Van Houbraken's flower painting, such as the cool, bright colors, the contrast between the chromatic richness of the bouquets and the neutrality of the background, and the absolute attention to the rendering of the characteristics of the various plant species.
  • Creator:
    Nicola van Houbraken (Italian)
  • Creation Year:
    XVII Century
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 22.84 in (58 cm)Width: 17.33 in (44 cm)
  • More Editions & Sizes:
    58x44Price: $8,884
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Milan, IT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2639216355982

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