Jan Baptist Lambrechts (Antwerp, 1680 – after 1731), In the Kitchen

Jan Baptist Lambrechts (Antwerp, 1680 – after 1731)

In the kitchen

(2) Oil on panel, 26 x 22 cm

With frame, 42 x 38 cm

Signed at the bottom

Published on RKD

Jan Baptist Lambrechts, an 18th-century Flemish painter, was known for his meticulous painting technique, characterized by a fine brush stroke and an ambitious attention to composition. His attention was focused on lively and popular genre scenes, preferring figures such as cooks, maids, vegetable vendors, peasants intent on dancing and tavern patrons, recurring subjects in his production, as demonstrated by the paintings analyzed here.

This work in particular reveals Lambrechts' mastery of luxurious fabrics and the definition of almost portrait-like physiognomies. The observer is struck by the precision of the details, which range from the rustic earthenware jugs to the simple napkin placed on the table, to the delicate play of light that animates the surface of the glasses.

Lambrechts' biography tells us that he was born in Antwerp, the son of Jacob and Anna Deckers. Orphaned at an early age, his half-brother Jeroom Lambrechts recognized his talent, allowing him to cultivate his artistic skills through self-taught work. In 1703, he traveled to Lille with the intention of selling his works at the annual fair, an event that began a period of wandering.

His return to Antwerp did not take place until 1709, a significant year since it marked his official entry into the local Guild of Saint Luke 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 demonstrated by the presence of his works in prestigious museum collections such as the Uffizi in Florence and the Hermitage, in addition to their regular appearance on the international art market.