A Vase of Flowers

Jean Baptiste Monnoyer, called Baptiste (1634-99)

oil on canvas, 153 x 113cm; in its original frame carved by thePelletier family.

One of a set of four sumptuous flower pieces ordered from thisspecialist by Ralph, 1st Duke of Montagu; two retain their originalmatching frames. The 1st Duke had brought, Baptiste, a Huguenot, fromFrance in 1678. Over thirty such paintings were commissioned forMontagu House. The fashion for Baptiste's work spread to other greathouses, Burghley, Stourhead and Dyrham. Dézallierd'Argenville, Abrégé de la vie des plus fameuxpeintres, iv, Paris, 1712, wrote 'His reputation has spreadthroughout Europe, and this led to his being chosen by Milord Montaguto journey to England in order to embellish the grand salon,staircase and living quarters of his home with floral and fruitdecoration. I have seen this work for myself and it is indeed worthyof Baptiste Monnoyer, who it can be said to have surpassed evenhimself...'

The frame is of a bolection section with husk and flower and leafback moulding and acanthus leaf, flower and strapwork ornament atcentres and corners. The background to the centre and cornerornaments is sanded to give greater relief to the carving and tocontrast with the uncarved burnished panels. Carved in pine and latergilded, this frame has been partly regilded.

PROVENANCE Ralph, 1st Duke of Montagu, thence by descent.

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