Jacobus Melchior van Herck, 1691 Antwerpen – 1735

Pair of paintingsSTILL LIFE WITH FLOWER BASKETS, FRUIT, PUNCTUAL VESSELS AND EACH A PARROT Oil on canvas. 47 x 66 cm. The slightly elongated format of the two paintings suggests that they may have been supraport paintings. The arrangements depicted are very detailed and related to each other in terms of content. The intended hanging or positioning results from the design of the table surface, which shows an angled section on the right and left of each picture, on which a tall golden tazza stands in the picture on the left and a lidded goblet in the opposite picture. The baskets on gathered cloths are richly filled with flowers, with a small parrot in or next to them, turning towards cherry branches. A tall champagne glass, a ground beetle, a caterpillar and Chinese bowls also enrich the depictions. The painter, of whom only a few biographical details have survived, is listed as a pupil of Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen the Younger in the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke for the year 1691/92, which also explains his choice of subjects. In 1694 he is mentioned as a master, in 1720 as a deacon of the guild. His last mention dates back to 1735. Van Herck often collaborated with figure painters such as François Liberti in mythological and allegorical scenes, for example in the "Portrait of Maria Luisa of Saxony". A.R. Annotation: Attribution, according to the previous owner, kindly provided by Fred Meijer. (1401198) (1) (11) Jacob Melchior van Herck, 1691 Antwerp - 1735 Pair of paintings STILL LIFES WITH FLORAL BASKETS, FRUIT, MAGNIFICENT VESSELS, AND A PARROT EACH Oil on canvas. 47 x 66 cm. Only few biographical details are known about this painter, but he is listed with the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp as a student of Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen the Younger in 1691/92. This also explains his choice of subjects. He is listed as a master painter in 1694. Notes: According to the previous owner, the painter was kindly identified with the help of expert Fred Meijer.