In short

Luckily Abraham de Lust, a rare Dutch painter from the third quarter of the 17^th century, usually signed his works. Ours is an early work, showing the influence of Parisian still life painting. Most of his works clearly date from after his return to Holland, where he fell under the influence of Willem van Aelst. 

About Abraham de Lust

Dutch painter
Active during the second half of the 17^th century

Still life painter of flowers and fruit.

Circa 1650 de Lust is documented in Paris, in 1656 in Lyon. During the 1650 he must also have been active in Amsterdam. In 1659 he was living in Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland and subsequently in Germany.

De Lust is known to have worked for the local Frisian nobility. He painted a garland for Albertina Agnes of Nassau, widow of her second cousin, the Frisian Stadtholder William Frederick, Prince of Nassau-Dietz.

About our painting

De Lust usually signed his paintings in somewhat Gothic letters, as can also be read in our painting.

The use of a rich vase and of the gold-fringed table cloth, folded to reveal the underside, is a characteristic of Parisian still-life paintings, especially of Jean-Michel Picart (Antwerp circa 1600 – 1682 Paris). Picart was of Flemish origin, settled in Paris in 1634 and was naturalised Frenchman in 1645. He had a long career and was a very successful still life painter.

There are not many paintings known by de Lust, who rarely dated his works. But seeing the French influence our painting must date from his early years, from the 1650s, before he fell in Amsterdam under the influence of Willem van Aelst (1627 – 1683). Another flower still life, dating from these early years, was sold at Lempertz Cologne, 17/05/14.

A clumsy 20^th century copy of our painting was in 1960 with the Dutch art dealer J. Gans, who had galleries in The Hague and in Nice (RKD number 00000120231).

Why should you buy this painting?

Because it is a fully signed painting dating from the early, French-influenced years of de Lust.