Lot 244: NICOLAES VAN VEERENDAEL

NICOLAES VAN VEERENDAEL ANTWERP 1640 - 1691 STILL LIFE OF A SWAG OF FLOWERS IN FRONT OF A STONE NICHE oil on canvas 22 1/4 by 16 in.; 56.5 by 40.6 cm.

Amsterdam, P. de Boer, Winter Exhibition, 1957-1958;
Greenwich, Connecticut, Bruce Museum of Arts and Science, Old Master Paintings from the Hascoe Collection, 2 April - 29 May 2005, no. 17.

P. Sutton, Old Master Paintings from the Hascoe Collection (exh. cat. Bruce Museum), Greenwich 2005, p. 42, no. 17, reproduced.

With P. de Boer, Amsterdam, 1957-1958;
From whom acquired by the father of the consignor to the Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 30 May 2003, lot 4;
Where acquired by the present owners.

This elegant and symmetrical festoon has been dated to the 1670s, when van Veerendael's style had matured and was beginning to reflect the influence of the lush and opulent floral compositions of Jan Davidsz. de Heem.(1) This swag is balanced by paired tulips and roses and punctuated with carnations, narcissi and other flowers. Set off by the dark monochrome gray tone of the stone niche, the rich tones of the red, orange, pink and white flowers almost seem to spring from the canvas. A more lavish, but roughly contemporary garland piece by van Veerendael is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (inv. no. P.16-1914).

At the time of its sale in 2003, Fred Meijer of the RKD, The Hague, confirmed the attribution of this painting on the basis of transparencies.

1. See Literature