Still life with flowers in a wicker basket - Coenraet Roepel (1678 - 1748)

Still life with flowers in a wicker basket
Oil on canvas
Signed lower right: “C. Roepel fecit”
Dimensions: 52 x 42 cm; 66 x 56 cm (framed)



THE ARTWORK
This still life by Coenraet Roepel exemplifies the artist's meticulous attention to detail and his passion for flowers. Arranged in a wicker basket, the composition showcases a variety of vibrant blooms rendered with precision and luminosity, set against a dark background that enhances their striking colors.
The inclusion of a stone niche setting, often seen in Roepel’s works, adds depth and structure to the painting, creating a harmonious interplay between natural forms and architectural elements. The subtle depiction of insects, such as a butterfly and beetle, emphasizes the transient beauty of nature, a theme central to Dutch still life painting.
THE ARTIST
Coenraet Roepel was a distinguished Dutch painter known for his fruit and flower still lifes during the 18th century. His love of gardening inspired him to capture the beauty of plants, leading him to study under the esteemed painter Constantijn Netscher.
Roepel’s career reached significant heights when he traveled to Düsseldorf in 1716, earning a gold chain and medal from Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine, for his exceptional artistry. Upon his return to the Netherlands, Roepel became a member of the Confrerie Pictura in The Hague in 1718. He achieved considerable success, receiving up to 1,000 guilders for his works. However, his prominence waned in the shadow of flower painter Jan van Huysum.
Roepel specialized in still lifes set within stone niches, as seen in this painting. His works remain a testament to his ability to balance botanical accuracy with artistic elegance, capturing the ephemeral beauty of nature with timeless sophistication.