Hubert Bellis (1831 – 1902) - Still Life with Lobster, Oysters and Duck

Hubert Bellis
Brussels 1831 – 1902 Schaerbeek
Belgian Painter

'Still Life with Lobster, Oysters and Duck'

Signature: Signed lower right?
Medium: Oil on canvas?
Dimensions: Image size 100 x 140 cm, frame size 114 x 153 cm

Biography: Bellis Hubert was born on January 6, 1831, in the heart of Brussels, he emerged as a celebrated painter renowned for his exquisite still lifes, enchanting flowers, bountiful fruits, and captivating portraits.
Hubert commenced his artistic journey at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, refining his craft under the esteemed tutelage of François-Joseph Navez (1787 – 1869) and Jean Henri De Coene (1798 – 1866). The years 1846 to 1857 witnessed the flourishing of his artistic flair under their guiding influence.
In 1857, a new chapter unfolded as Bellis, in collaboration with his brother Charles-Louis Bellis, established a creative sanctuary at 31 Brandhoutkaai in Brussels. A fruitful camaraderie with fellow artists Guillaume Vogels and Jean Degreef gave birth to collaborative masterpieces, flourishing with creativity.
As time gracefully advanced, Bellis ascended to new heights, earning acclaim for his meticulously detailed still lifes and entrancing portraits, a reputation solidified from 1875 onwards.
Hubert and Charles-Louis discovered solace in the embrace of “La Chrysalide,” an artist association in Brussels dedicated to nurturing young talents. Bellis’ legacy radiated through the salons organized by the association in 1876, 1877, 1878, and 1881.
In 1883, he embarked on a transformative voyage of study, exploring Amsterdam in the company of kindred spirits James Ensor and Guillaume Vogels.
His still lifes evolved into poetic expressions of the delicate allure found in flowers, fruits, and seashells. Over time, Hubert’s artistry shed the constraints of meticulously controlled compositions, embracing spontaneous brushstrokes that resonated with natural elegance. Roses, geraniums, chrysanthemums in humble pots, succulent grapes, and the treasures of the sea adorned his canvases with lifelike vibrancy, each stroke infused with the soul of an impressionist.
Hubert peacefully departed this world in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode on April 16, 1902.
Today, his masterpieces grace private and public collections worldwide, finding homes in prestigious venues such as the Musée de la Picardie in Amiens, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels, the Museum of Elsene in Brussels, the Stedelijk Museum Van der Kelen-Mertens in Leuven, the Musée des Beaux-Arts Liège, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the Musée Communal in Verviers, the Collection of the Chamber of Representatives in Brussels, and the Municipal Collection in Schaerbeek.