Artwork
Still-life with Fruit and Flowers
Still-life with Fruit and Flowers is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen the Younger. It dates from 1698 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1698, this oil painting by Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen the Younger exemplifies the Flemish Baroque approach to still life. The composition centers on a darkened tabletop that supports two abundant bowls, one brimming with fruit and the other with a vivid assortment of flowers, all set against an almost black background that heightens the visual impact of the colors.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes a generous display of grapes, peaches and plums with a lively bouquet of red roses, yellow tulips and white daisies, intertwined with foliage. The overflowing arrangement suggests abundance and the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures, a common theme in Baroque still-life painting.
Technique & Style
Verbruggen employs a refined chiaroscuro, allowing the deep shadows to merge into the surrounding darkness like a veil. Thin, layered brushstrokes build delicate textures on the fruit skins and flower petals, while the smooth transition of light creates a sense of three-dimensionality and tactile realism.
History & Provenance
The artist, active in Antwerp and later in The Hague, was known for collaborative projects that combined still-life elements with figure painting. This particular piece entered the collection of the Scottish National Gallery, where it remains on public display.
Context
During the late 17th century, Flemish painters such as Verbruggen specialized in decorative still lifes that celebrated botanical accuracy and decorative richness. The painting reflects the period’s fascination with detailed natural observation and the decorative tastes of a courtly clientele.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen the Younger
Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen or Gasparo Pedro Verbruggen (baptized on 11 April 1664 in Antwerp – buried on 14 March 1730 in Antwerp) was a Flemish still life painter who is principally known for his decorative still lifes with flowers and…
