Niccolò Stanchi (rome, 1623 – 1690), Still Life With Fruit And Flowers

Niccolò Stanchi (Rome, 1623 – 1690)

Still life with fruit and flowers

Oil on canvas, 49 x 67 cm

With frame, 67 x 87 cm

Niccolò Stanchi (Rome, 1623 – 1690) was an Italian painter who distinguished himself in the genre of still life, an artistic field that underwent a whirlwind process of change and development in the 17th century. His career is inextricably linked to that of his older brothers, Giovanni (circa 1608 – 1675) and Angelo (1626 – active until 1673), with whom he shared a renowned Roman workshop specializing precisely in this type of painting. The Stanchi workshop was not a simple place of production, but a real center of innovation where the individual skills of the brothers merged into choral works. While Giovanni was particularly appreciated for his mastery of painting flowers, Niccolò earned a solid reputation as a skilled decorator. This specialization allowed them to collaborate on multiple projects, creating complex and detailed compositions. The synergy between the brothers is a distinctive characteristic of their production and sometimes makes it difficult to attribute the individual parts of a work with certainty to a specific member of the family. Niccolò Stanchi's works are distinguished by a bold and often contrasting use of color. This predilection for bright and sometimes "discordant" colors reveals a clear link with the models of Flemish painting, which at the time exerted a notable influence on Italian art. Many Flemish artists had settled in Rome, bringing with them new techniques and approaches to the representation of nature. The Stanchis, and Niccolò in particular, were able to assimilate these influences, reworking them with a personal and recognizable style. Stanchi's still lifes are often characterized by opulent floral compositions, inserted into elegantly decorated vases.