Object Description
Pair of large floral still lifes in the Old Master style
Continental, Early 20th Century
Canvas: Height 120cm, width 90cm
Frame: Height 141cm, width 111cm, depth 6cm
This pair of beautiful floral still-life paintings recall the style of the Dutch Old Masters, who rendered realistic still-life scenes filled with fruit, flowers, and foliage against dark backdrops. Depicted from a low vantage point, each painting is dominated by a large vase copiously filled with a variety of blooms. Rendered in vibrant pastel shades, the flowers appear to take over the canvas, even spilling onto the ground below in a display of abundance. In between the bright petals, dark green foliage peeks through, and the minute water droplets that trickle down the leaves indicate the painterly skills of the artist.
The flowers each sit inside a large urn that is decorated in a classical style. The first is adorned with swags which meet in small cherub heads, whilst the other has a more scrolling design that evokes acanthus leaves. The plain yet shaded backdrops allow the viewer to focus on the lavish floral subject at hand, as well as adding a sense of timelessness to these refined works.
Both works are set in carved giltwood and ebonised wood frames, which complement the colour palette of the paintings.
Harking back to a golden age of painting history, these magnificent still lifes brim with floral beauty.