Jacob Marrel, Basket Of Flowers, 17th Century

Jacob Marrel “Basket of Flowers” Oil on Panel 54x71.5 cm Signed lower right Mar 1643 or 8? Some slight wear and usual restorations Born in Frankenthal in 1614, died in Frankfurt am Main in 1681 Student of Georg Flegel in Frankfurt, then of Jan Davidsz de Heem, he opened a painting store in Utrecht with Abraham Mignon, whose he had been the master. A great collector of tulips, this flower that had recently come from Turkey and which was enjoying extraordinary popularity at that time, Marrel quickly became a specialist and produced a book on tulips for fervent enthusiasts which was a great success. As in many of his compositions, Marrel represents in this flamboyant bouquet arranged in a fine wicker basket splendid flamed tulips, the most prized at his time. An extraordinary play of light bathes this composition where insects (dragonfly and butterfly which refer to the celestial world, and stag beetle which evokes the terrestrial world) preparing to feast on the flowers recall the transience of all things...