Heem, Jan Davidsz. de (Umkreis od. Nachfolge/Circle or Follower)

Description:

Untrecht 1606 - Antwerpen 1684
125 x 87 cm
Garlands of fruits and flowers at a cartouche flanked by two puttos with the Holy Family in the centre. Oil/canvas, relined, verso old seals with crown, lion and two small heraldic shields, inscribed FID:DEF:IND:IMP (Fidei Defensor Indiae Imperator).
Otto Bantele, Munich Sale June 24/25 1974 (as Joris van Soon); A. v. Bethmann-Hollweg KG, Berlin 1976 (as Joris van Soon); Southern German Private Collection. The painting is closely related to a still life by de Heem from 1651 at Gemäldegalerie Berlin (inv. no. 906B). Fred Meijer, Amsterdam, to whom we are grateful for helpful references, considers it possible that the present painting is based on a now lost painting by de Heem. In terms of depiction, the painting is a typical example of a special form of still life painting that emerged in the southern Netherlands and developed its heyday there. These still lifes with Christian-religious content show a central motif, around which a densely painted wreath of flowers or lush fruit hanging is arranged. The depicted flowers and fruits do not only contribute to the increase of the aesthetic meaning, but rather they lead to a close look and led to a meditative-adorative contemplation of the central motif.