Nicola van Houbraken (Messina, 1668 – Pisa, 1733)(attr.), Flower vases

Nicola or Nicolino van Houbraken, also known as Nicolino Vanderbrach da Messina or Nicola Messinese, was a famous Italian painter of the late Baroque of Flemish origin. Nicola was born in Messina to a Flemish father and a local mother. Nicola's father, Ettore (or Hector, died 1723), and his grandfather, Joannes (known in the sources as Giovanni), originally from Antwerp, were both historical painters and art dealers. After spending his youth in Messina and taking his first steps in the artistic field in Sicily, following the anti-Spanish revolt in Sicily and the drastic worsening of the socioeconomic conditions of the island, van Houbraken moved to Livorno in 1676, at the age of 16. In Tuscany, the fame of the young artist of Flemish origins spread like wildfire: his flowers and still lifes attracted the attention of the governor of Livorno, his first supporter, and later of the Medici family, whose members were among the most prestigious patrons of the artist of Belgian origin. The Medici were known for their passion for flowers, which had its origins in the collection of roses and carnations of Cosimo de' Medici and Ferdinando II. Nicola Van Houbraken, having reached full artistic maturity, specialized in paintings depicting playful compositions of fruit, vegetables, vegetation, animals and game set in simple and linear interiors or in forests. His still lifes are a continuation of the glorious tradition of the works of Otto Marseus van Schrieck, one of the first representatives of this genre in the late Baroque period. Characteristic of the artist's style are the rapid touches of light impressed on small leaves and the bold brushstrokes that depict the flowers neatly, so that they are highlighted by the dark background. Nicola showed a precision and technical mastery in portraying different botanical species with extreme realism and naturalness. His compositions are full of charm and a chromatic range with a preference for icy and crystalline tones, reminiscent of the work of Abraham Brueghel. His still lifes are also influenced by contemporary Tuscan production, with particular reference to the activity of members of the Florentine and Lucca schools such as Bartolomeo Bimbi and Andrea Scacciati. It is known that he collaborated with landscape specialists and figure painters in works to which he contributed still life elements. After a flourishing career and obtaining various recognitions from members of the Medici family, Van Houbraken died in Livorno in 1724.

In this beautiful pair of canvases we can see many of the founding characteristics of Van Houbraken's flower painting, such as the cold and bright colours, the contrast between the chromatic richness of the bouquets and the neutrality of the background, and the absolute attention to the rendering of the characteristics of the various plant species.