Jan Baptist Lambrechts (antwerp, 1680 - After 1731), In The Kitchen

Jan Baptist Lambrechts (Antwerp, 1680 - after 1731)

In the kitchen

(2) Oil on board, cm 26 X 22

With frame, cm 42 x 38

Signed below

Published on RKD

Jan Baptist Lambrechts, a 18th-century Flemish painter, distinguished himself by his meticulous painting technique, characterized by fine brushstrokes and ambitious compositional care. His focus was on lively and popular genre scenes, preferring figures such as cooks, maids, vegetable peddlers, farmers engaged in dances and tavern patrons, recurring subjects in his production, as witnessed by the paintings analyzed here.

This work in particular reveals the mastery of Lambrechts in the rendering of luxurious fabrics and in the definition of almost portrait-like features. The observer is struck by the precision of the details, ranging from rustic terracotta jugs to the simple napkin resting on the table, to the delicate play of light that animates the surface of the glasses.

The biography of Lambrechts informs us about his birth in Antwerp, son of Jacob and Anna Deckers. Orphaned at an early age, it was his half-brother Jeroom Lambrechts who saw the talent, allowing him to cultivate his artistic skills through a self-taught path. In 1703, he undertook a journey to Lille with the intention of marketing his works during the annual fair, an event that started a period of pilgrimages.

His return to Antwerp took place only in 1709, a significant year since it marked his official entry into the local Guild of San Luca with the achievement of the title of master. His skill and his peculiar style led him to be appreciated even outside the Flemish borders, as evidenced by the presence of his works in prestigious museum collections such as the Uffizi in Florence and the Hermitage, as well as their regular appearance on the international art market.