Vase Of Flowers, Tulips, Iris, Narcissus And Damask Rose. Antonio Ponce (c. 1608-1677) Attributed

Oil on canvas Presented in an exceptional 17th century period frame with inverted profile, veneered with olive burl interspersed with black moldings. Total dimensions: 85 x 75 cm. The canvas alone: 50 x 40 cm Deeply influenced by Flemish and Dutch art, the still lifes of the Spanish golden age were a great success with collectors. The uncluttered composition shows us with great simplicity a superb vase of flowers of which the painter was able to make a brilliant analysis dominated by the theatrical lighting drawing on the lesson of Caravaggio. Antonio Ponce (c. 1608, Valladolid – November-December 1677, Madrid) was a Spanish Baroque painter specializing in still lifes and flower garlands. Son of a servant in the household of Juan de Zúñiga, 1st Duke of Peñaranda. When he was only a month old (probably after the death of the Duke), his family moved to Madrid. In 1624, on the death of his father, he became an apprentice in the workshop of Juan van der Hamen and remained there for three years. At the end of his training, he married Francisca de Alfaro, Hamen's niece. In 1631, after Hamen's death, it is believed that as a member of the family he kept the studio open and continued to paint in the same style, which created attribution difficulties although after 1630, some of his works were signed. In 1633, he was one of the painters whose studios were raided by the government. The portraits of King Philip IV and the royal family were confiscated so that they could be examined by Vicente Carducho and Diego Velázquez, in order to judge their quality and their validity. This resulted from complaints by local officials and members of the court that many painters had portraits that were not "parecidos los más de ellos, y otros con hábitos indecentes" (not like most of them). them and others with indecent habits). Apparently, nothing objectionable was found, because the following year he became a member of the Painters' Guild. In 1637, documents indicate that he was working on ephemeral decorations for the arrival of the Princess of Carignano and, a year later, he created decorations at the Palacio del Buen Retiro, in collaboration with Francisco Barrera. In 1642, business seems to have dropped off, as he applied for an appointment as inspector of weights and measures. He worked again with Barrera in 1649, preparing for the visit of Queen Mariana of Austria. They were joined by the sculptor Maunel Correa [es] and several gilders, who would produce ten gilded figures of kings and emperors. From then until his death he is known only from the paintings he signed and a "Last Testament", written by him and his wife in 1657, although they were in good health. and childless. A death certificate was issued in 1677. His wife survived him. A composition very close to our painting is in the Museum of Fine Arts in Strasbourg. Antonio Ponce Vase of flowers Oil on canvas: 78 x 58 cm Very good condition. Sold with invoice & certificate