The Soap Bubbles

genre

The painting is the result of a collaboration with David Teniers the Younger. The decorative cartouche was painted by van Kessel, renowned for his compositions of shells and insects. The cartouche features four still-lifes on the elements: water is represented by fishes, air by birds, earth by fruit and flowers, and fire by the arms trophy at the top.

Loading map…

About the Artist

Jan van, I Kessel

1626 – 1679

Flemish still-life and flower painter active in Antwerp, where he became a Guild member in 1645. He continued the traditions of his grandfather, Jan "Velvet" Brueghel, and was also influenced by Daniel Seghers. Jan van Kessel painted many animals (especially insects), garlands and bouquets of flowers, as well as some mythological scenes. His choice of subject leaned towards those which included animals and plants; for example, he painted Noah's Ark. He is best known for small, jewel-like pictures, often on copper, of insects or shells against a light background, executed with strong colour and great exactitude. Good examples of his prolific output are in Oxford (Ashmolean), Cambridge (Fitzwilliam), and Madrid (Prado).

View all works →