Still Life With Medici Vase, Flowers And Fruits. By Jean-baptiste Blin De Fontenay (1653-1715)

Jean-Baptiste Blin de Fontenay (Caen, 1653 - Paris, 1715) *Signed and dated in the center right "Blin de Fontenay 1709" Oil on canvas Period frame in molded and gilded wood Total dimensions: 90 x 110 cm. The canvas alone: 77 x 98 cm Pupil of Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer and his best disciple, Jean-Baptiste Blin de Fontenay, also a flower painter, entered the Academy in 1685 and 1699. When Monnoyer died, he succeeds him as Councilor of the Academy. He worked very early alongside his masters on the decorations of various Royal Houses: Versailles, Trianon, Compiègne, Fontainebleau, Marly. He also took part in the embellishment of the great Parisian residences, and worked for the Manufacture des Gobelins, judging by the Inventories of the Crown, his works were very numerous in the royal collections. It differs from Monnoyer by rarer, more sophisticated and sometimes exotic flowers, arranged in very precious vases. Sometimes, an opening made in the background of his paintings and offering a perspective on nature constitutes his great originality. Combining the precision of detail that Monnoyer had taught him, with the monumental, he appears as the creator of the "Versailles" still life. He was sought after to decorate the palaces of distinguished families. In addition, he painted many floral borders for female portraits. He richly decorated the "Queen's staircase" at the Palace of Versailles with flowers. There is also a rich selection of his works at the Grand Trianon. Besides two works in the Louvre gallery, his still lifes are found in museums, and they possess a large number of paintings by the master, most of them in Caen, Bayeux, Rennes, Orleans, Avignon, Tours and Marseilles. Very good condition. Sold with invoice & certificate