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Flowers and Butterflies

Jan van Kessel I

Basic information

ID: Ж-892
Author: Jan van Kessel I
Name: Flowers and Butterflies
Date of creation: 17th c.
Country: Flanders
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 49 x 63

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: still life
Provenance: Collection of Lviv Museum of Ukrainian Art
Exposition: Potocki Palace

Information about author

Author: Jan van Kessel I
Artist's lifetime: 1626–1679
Country: Flanders
Biography: Jan van Kessel the Elder was one of the best masters of still life in 17th-century Antwerp. He was born into the Brueghel family, a well-known and influential "dynasty" of artists: his grandfather was the famous Jan Brueghel the Elder, and his uncles were Jan Brueghel the Younger and David Teniers the Younger. The master was born in 1626 in Antwerp. Initially, he studied under the renowned Caravaggist Simon de Vos, but later, his relatives, particularly his uncle Jan Brueghel the Younger, took care of his education. Between 1644 and 1645, Jan van Kessel the Elder was registered as a "blomschilder" (flower painter) in the Guild of Saint Luke lists. However, Kessel was primarily known as the author of masterful oil or watercolour still lifes. The artist depicted garlands and bouquets in his works, complemented by fruits and images of various insects and reptiles, almost with the interest of a naturalist. Kessel also had success working in other genres. For example, he created many animalistic compositions with symbolic and moralistic subtext, grotesque images following David Teniers the Elder's manner, and landscapes with figures of peasants, similar to the works by Jan Brueghel the Elder. In 1652, Jan van Kessel I moved to Madrid to work at the court of King Philip IV. However, he stayed there for only two years and returned to Antwerp.

Object description

Jan van Kessel the Elder was one of the pioneers of Flemish still life, showing flower garlands. This genre was formed in the Counter-Reformation atmosphere to spread and propagate Catholic ideas and dogmas. The still life "Flowers and Butterflies" represents the common theme of "vanity of vanities" with a distinct sacred subtext. A decorative composition of seashells hangs in a carved stone niche decorated with various flowers. Butterflies, beetles, praying mantises, caterpillars, grubs, and snakes are represented all over the painting. Such detailed images of plants and insects appeared in the art of Flanders and Holland under the influence of a growing interest in natural history. However, Kessel's painting not only accurately reproduces nature but also has a deep symbolic meaning, understandable to the viewer of that time. Shells represent death, flowers symbolise the transience of life, butterflies indicate the human soul, caterpillars represent resurrection, and snakes and other reptiles symbolise sinfulness. The content of the work was intended to encourage the viewer to consider the salvation of the soul as opposed to the perishable earthly existence. The artist skilfully concealed his signature in the painting: the contours of caterpillars and snakes on the niche plinth and the table form the inscription "Jan Van Kessel".

Legal regulation

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery

Flowers and Butterflies

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