Jan van Kessel - Study of Insects, Flowers and Shells, 1659 - On Paper

Limited Edition of 50

This study – a minutely observed collation of natural objects – is typical of Jan van Kessel’s work. There is an innovative element of trompe l’oeil in the work, in that each item has a shadow, and so appears to be lying on a flat surface or – in the case of some of the insects – climbing a flat wall. Some of the beetles and flies in the composition are arranged separately, like specimens in a naturalist’s cabinet (and in fact, Kessel did sometimes paint drawer fronts for wealthy collectors). Other items are interacting and overlapping like the elements of traditional still life. These include the shells that sit in front of the cut blue flower, and the butterflies that are perched on the bloom and the leaves. It all adds up to little collection in itself, a painted Wunderkammer assembled by a curious mind.