Still life, flowers, fruit and sculptures, Neapolitan art circa 1700

This Neapolitan still life, circa 1700, is an oil on canvas from the workshop of Gaspare Lopez (Naples, 1677 – Florence, 1732), a late Baroque naturalist painter specializing in floral and fruit motifs. He began his career working with the painter Andrea Belvedere and the French artist Jean-Baptiste Du Buisson, through whom he turned to illusionistic painting, focusing on floral triumphs. His arrival in Florence brought him closer to the Medici court, where he was appointed court painter, and his rise as a floral painter continued to grow.

Against a background blended with touches of blue, orange, and pink, abundant floral compositions stand out. In the upper section, we find open tulips, and in the lower section, dahlias and hydrangeas. These multitudes of flowers are distinguished from the background by their detail and luminosity. In the lower left section, fruits accompany these flowers: a melon, pomegranates, figs, and a delicately placed bunch of grapes. Finally, architectural details complete the scene. On the right side is a vase bordering the abundant bouquet, as well as an antique-style bust of Bacchus, whose reddish hues lend it a certain spatial depth.

Sight dimensions: W: 112.3 x H: 83.5 x D: 4.5 cm
Framed dimensions: W: 131 cm x H: 102 cm