Workshop of Carstian Luyckx (c. 1623-1658) - Still life

This magnificent canvas is a Flemish still life from the 17th century, to be categorized specifically within the Pronkstilleven subgenre. This subgenre, which initially developed in Antwerp but later spread throughout the Low Countries, consists of a sumptuous still life, rich in objects, animals, human figures, plants, and flowers, which lend the work a greater level of complexity and variety in both tones and subjects. Furthermore, these works often aimed to convey a moralizing meaning, showing the vanity and temporality of material things precisely through their overabundant and opulent depiction. Setting aside the contrast between the underlying message and the figures, one cannot help but admire the latter for their meticulous rendering in every minute detail, for the luminous splendor of the colours, and for the skillful use of subtle and harmonious chiaroscuro between the light and shaded areas. Focusing on the city of origin of the Pronkstilleven, Antwerp, we identify the author of this work: the workshop of Carstian Luyckx, also known as the Monogrammist KL, who was famous for his still lifes which he developed in other subgenres such as vanitas paintings, hunting scenes, or garland paintings. The resemblances to this artist's production, who was apprenticed to a genre specialist like Philips de Marlier and also studied with Frans Francken III, are found in various works, such as the two still lifes, one in Ohio and the other in Montreal, where we find the lobster, the lemon peel in the glass, the crimson drapery, and the gold cup decorated with set jewels. Further similarities are found in even more analogous works: in one with the same vertical format and the addition of a dog, part of a private collection, both the parrot and a human figure at the window appeared after a major cleaning, while in another, also in a private collection, we find all the elements, including the little monkey on the table, except for the man looking out from the window grate in the background. As if these objective similarities in subject and style were not enough, a canvas by our artist, which perfectly matches ours, had previously appeared on the market, suggesting that it may even be the identical painting, and confirming the authorship of the canvas with extreme certainty. This should not suggest that the artist was limited to a few repeated compositions; on the contrary, as already mentioned, he ventured into multiple types of still life, achieving enormous success both at home and in France, where he worked for several years. Among his works of different genres, some of the most famous include: the Memento Mori in a private collection, close to the vanitas themes, or the Poultry Attacked by a Fox, concerning scenes with live animals and hunting, and finally the Cartouche with Flowers, to be framed within garland paintings or works featuring floral subjects.