Gerardus van Spaendonck

Still Life of Flowers

Spaendonck`s still life of flowers contains the contemporary characteristic elements of this genre: on a slightly slanting tabletop of stone there is a bowl, decorated with plain, gilded applications, which is crowded by a luxuriant abundance of rose blossoms, dahlias, bellflowers, primroses, forget-me-nots, cornflowers, larkspurs and many other sorts of flower. A goldfinch, which is pecking at a cherry, and the nest filled with some eggs serve to enrich the still life. Actually, the accumulation of so many different flowers is rather extraordinary. Spaendonck was a much sought-after specialist in this field and was active as court miniaturist for Louis XVI. in Paris. Another refined aspect of this miniature is its simple frame: in front of the black background, the pastily applied colours shine as though the flowers themselves were the source of light.