MONNOYER, Jean-Baptiste - b. 1636 Lille, d. 1699 London - WGA

MONNOYER, Jean-Baptiste

(b. 1636 Lille, d. 1699 London)

Franco-Flemish flower-painter who was trained in Antwerp, but became a member of the Academy in Paris in 1665 and worked for Louis XIV. It is said that he was annoyed because his son Antoine, an inferior flower-painter, was allowed to alter some of his works, and in a fit of pique he went to London c. 1685. There he worked for the Duke of Montagu’s new (and very French) town house (many of these pictures have passed by inheritance to the Duke of Buccleuch) and he remained in London until his death. His flower-pieces are rich and splendid, yet painted with the greatest regard for botanical accuracy: they frequently appear in English sale-rooms under his nickname ‘Baptiste’. He also published books of engravings of flowers.

Many pictures have been wrongly attributed to him, and his oeuvre is difficult to define because of the lack of signed and dated pictures.

Bouquet of Flowers in Glass Vase on Marble Ledge

This is one of a pair of similar still-lifes.

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Bouquet of Flowers in Glass Vase on Marble Ledge

This is one of a pair of similar still-lifes.

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Flowers

Monnoyer was the most successful specialist in flower painting of his period. His flower-pieces are rich and splendid, yet painted with the greatest regard for botanical accuracy.

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Flowers

Monnoyer’s flower pieces are characterized by his ability to subordinate each flower to a complete ensemble. Each one is perfectly drawn, exactly like those of his Dutch and Flemish contemporaries, but Monnoyer managed to envelop them in deep-toned shadow that emanates from the background. The result is both mysterious and luxuriant.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 7 minutes):

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, ballet suite, op. 71, Waltz of the Flowers

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Fruit and Flowers

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Still-Life

This still-life consists of roses, honeysuckle, lilies, chrysanthemums, narcissi and other flowers in a vase.

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Still-Life of Flowers

Dezallier d’Argenville (1680-1765, a lawyer to the Parlement de Paris, secretary to the king and author of the book entitled The Theory and Practice of Gardening, wrote about him: “This talented artist is respected by all lovers of painting. As a rule his work is fresh and perfectly conveys what he is depicting, so that you can be almost certain the only thing missing among his beautiful flowers is the scent, which they appear to give off. He is a great master, a favourite of the Muses, who paints everything from nature. He is capable even of depicting the dew which is deposited in the morning on the flowers and remains for a while during the day.”

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Still-Life of Flowers

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Still-Life of Flowers and Fruits

Monnoyer was, in his prime in the 1670s, the foremost still-life painter in Europe, but his skill has been much underestimated in recent years, due to the proliferation of incorrect attributions to him. He specialized in flower pieces of the most elaborate design, although in the early part of his career he produced more conventional still-life paintings, such as the one in the Mus�e Fabre at Montpellier.

The painting was executed in 1665 and submitted to the Academy at the time of the painter’s admission in the same year. Following the upheavals of the Revolution in 1789, it was deposited at Montpellier in 1804.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 2 minutes):

Franz Schubert: Blumenlied (Flower Song) D 431

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