Pair of still lifes, flemish school of the 17th century

Pair of still lifes with grapes, fruits, oysters, baked goods and pewter dishes

We thank Mr Fred Meijer for kind information from April 19 2023

Obviously already conceived as counterparts, wooden tables on balustrated legs are depicted here, projecting into the picture space once from the left and once from the right. They are covered with a velvet blanket with gold fringes and gold thread embroidery. Draped on the precious background are grapes, peaches, an orange, oysters and two baked pieces. The objects draped around the pewter bowls are reflected in the shiny material in an optically precise way. It is thanks to Fred Meijer that we can now place the pair of paintings in the circle of Jan van der Hecke I, of whom a well-comparable monogrammed painting has survived that was once in the collection of the Duke of Northumberland at Syon House and was offered at Sotheby's in London in 1952 (26 March 1952, lot 83).