Nicolas Baudesson (troyes 1611 - Paris 1680) Still Life In Flowers In A Glass Vase

Nicolas Baudesson (Troyes 1611 - Paris 1680) Still life with flowers in a glass vase (main work of the artist) oil on canvas 38 x 29 cm or 55 x 45 cm Provenance: Private collection; Lempertz auction house, Cologne (May 12, 2012). No. 995, 23,180 €. cf. Christie's, New York, January 29, 2014, n ° 54, 50,000 USD Nicolas Baudesson, who was active in the generation before Monnoyer, is considered one of the first representatives of the genre of still life in France. As a young man, he went to Italy where, according to Florent le Comte, he studied with the famous flower painter Mario Nuzzi, known under the name of Mario dei Fiore.1 On May 26, 1671, he entered the Académie de Paris. In this painting, Baudesson uses the contrasts of light and shadow to capture a variety of flowers with rhythmic unity. By placing the flowers in front of a dark brown background that lightens towards the rear, it highlights their bright and strong colors. If Baudesson was inspired by contemporary artists from the North for his compositions, he distinguished himself from them by placing more emphasis on the coherent tonal harmony of the colors of the flowering than on the smallest details. With bouquets as consistent as in the present painting, it achieved fame throughout Europe and even attracted the attention of King Louis XIV, who brought together a series of works by the artist at the Palace of Versailles. Without a doubt, the painting offered here can be considered as the main work of the artist for its exceptional quality, especially the brilliant lighting. inv.no.7.004 14.275 €