Lot 310: ATTRIBUTED TO ANTONIO PONCE

ATTRIBUTED TO ANTONIO PONCE VALLADOLID 1608 - AFTER 28 MAY 1662 PLACE UNKNOWN A GARLAND OF FLOWERS WITH A MELON, GRAPES AND OTHER FRUIT; A GARLAND OF FLOWERS WITH APPLES, PLUMS AND OTHER FRUIT Quantity: 2 a pair, both oil on canvas each: 38 1/4 by 25 3/4 in.; 97.2 by 65.4 cm.

In both their style and compositional motifs, the present pair of paintings demonstrate the strong influence of Juan van der Hamen, who had been Antonio Ponce's teacher in Madrid from 1624-1628. Ponce often directly quoted compositional motifs from his master's work, such as the use of stepped ledges to display his still-lifes, as seen in a painting offered Christie's, New York, 3 October 2001, lot 59. Ponce and van der Hamen's relationship was further strengthened in 1628 when Ponce married van der Hamen's niece, Francisca de Alfaro.