GASPAR PEETER VERBRUGGEN II, AMBITO DI
Antwerp, 1664 – 1730
Vase of flowers with parrot
oil on canvas, cm 180×177
The painting in question is attributed to the sphere of Jan Peeter Verbruggen, one of the most renowned Dutch painters of floral still lifes between the 17th and 18th century. Verbruggen stands out for his elegant compositions, which display not only extraordinary talent, but also exceptional botanical knowledge. His works are striking in their illustrative monumentality, the descriptive opulence of the corollas and the elegance of the pictorial touches.
The canvases attributed to Verbruggen are distinctive for his practice of enriching the images with marble vases wrapped in garlands, in line with the Rocaille aesthetic taste. Verbruggen’s skill, recognised from an early age, is testified by his biography: admitted to the Guild of St Luke at just twelve years of age, he was already a teacher at twenty-seven.
Our painting, which is monumental in size, depicts a large marble vase, presumably located inside a palace or in its court, as suggested by the fluting of a column visible on the far left of the work. In the centre of the composition, the vase, placed on a marble pedestal, is overflowing with multicoloured flowers of different types, creating a sumptuous and vivid vision.
The pedestal is further adorned with plant festoons and bunches of grapes, emphasising the richness and abundance of the still life. A parrot, hidden behind the vase, inclines its head towards a basket filled with autumn fruit, including pomegranates, grapes and pears. This addition of natural elements and animals not only enriches the scene, but also demonstrates the artist’s ability to incorporate complex and realistic details into his compositions.