Pair of Tall Antique Italian Still Life Paintings, circa 1900

A master-level painting surrounded by a thick and detailed gold leaf frame, this large oval oil on canvas has an impressive scale for a nature morte (still-life) painting. The painting, which dates to circa 1850, is by an unknown, yet extremely talented French artist. In stark contrast to the dark gray background, the subject of the painting is a brightly colored floral bouquet. The vibrant flowers (blue, red, yellow, pink, and white) reside in a brown woven basket that sits atop a stone baluster railing. A cluster of darkly colored grapes is strewn across the top of the railing, next to the basket, as two butterflies flutter above the bouquet. If you look closely, you will even see a third butterfly perched on one of the large green leaves that accompany the irises, carnations, and sunflowers. The equally impressive original frame is adorned with rings of beading, foliate rinceaux, and spiral fluting, with a deep convex molding carved with additional fluting. In 19th-century France, an entire school devoted to floral still-life paintings emerged, located in Lyon, which was the capital of floral design. Although originally still-life art was classified as unimportant, acceptance by art historians of the 20th century elevated the public opinion of nature mortes. A painting such as our large and striking oval floral...

The brilliant colors of this French nature morte are quite impressive, allowing the imagery to be seen crystal clear. Oil enhancements have been applied to this 20th-century transferred image to evoke similarities to the painting that it is after, which is currently housed in Le Louvre Museum in Paris. Our version is incredibly well-done and true to the Alexandre François Desportes original, which is entitled Game, Fruit, Flowers, and a Dog (1712). A variety of felled game (a rabbit and six birds) and a hunting rifle are displayed next to a stone fountain with a mythical creature mascaron water feature. The gadrooned basin is not filled with water, but rather a woven basket of blueberries next to a cluster of fruits including peaches and cherries (there is also a blue and white ceramic bowl full of peaches on a stone to the right of the fountain). Vibrant flowers in a wicker basket sit atop the thickly molded entablature of the cream-colored fountain. A pink rose bush grows on one side of the fountain, opposite from large, verdant bushes that obscure most of the blue sky. Laying beneath the fountain basin is a white hunting dog with black markings on its ears and face. Desportes was born in 1661 in Champigneulle, in northern France, later studying in Paris with the Flemish painter, Bernaerts. Initially, Desportes was a well-respected portrait painter, living in Poland during his mid-thirties to paint aristocrats such as King John III Sobieski. Upon the king’s death, Desportes returned to Paris and switched his focus to painting animals and floral arrangements. Both Louis XIV and Louis XIV commissioned Desportes to paint portraits of their favorite hunting dogs. Desportes would often join the kings on royal hunts, where he would travel with a notebook for still life sketches...

More information coming soon… Dating to circa 1880, these wonderful French barbotine vases have bronze mounts, inspired by the visual stylings of Japonisme. The hand-painted vases ...

More information coming soon… A wonderful nature morte painting, signed by the French artist from the 1800s, Georges. The oil on canvas painting is presented in a giltwood frame.

A 19th century Italian school life large oil-on-canvas painting within a gilt wood frame painting depicts a vase with a floral arrangement, a...

Pair of signed still life paintings oil on canvas Pair of early 20th century still life paintings of fruit. Finely painted, with lovely colour and line. Oil on canvas....

Pair of 19th century gilt framed still life oil paintings of tablescapes of fruit.  

Pair of circa 1920's Italian still life paintings. Measurements: Height: 50.25" Width: 26.25" Depth: 1.5"