Sometimes one is confronted with an a-typical painting for which one can not find an attribution. This is the case here: the painting is definitely 17th century, tulips were of course very popular in Holland, the insects represented here all live(d) in Holland, but the glass vase is of an unusual form and even Fred Meijer (who is the biggest expert for 17th century Dutch and Flemish still life painters) can not give an attribution for it. It is therefore very likely that our painting was made by a non-professional dilettante: a very good painter whose name has not surfaced yet. 

 

During the 17th century it was not unusual that rich, well-educated people paid for painting lessons. Rembrandt for example is known to have made a lot of money in Amsterdam this way. They were either very rich, or they had another full-time job. These painters never joined the local Painter’s Guild as they never turned into professionals. Their production was extremely limited and very little is known about them. Above all they were original artists, with a personal style. Just a few of them have been identified. In 17th century Dutch still life painting I can mention:

- Pieter Gallis (1633 -1697). He lived in Hoorn, Enkhuizen and Purmerend. He is documented as a manager of municipal pawnshops (“Bank van Leening”). Some ten signed paintings are known by him.

- Last year I sold an important still life painting, dated 1675, signed Suchtelen. The intricate initials in front of the last name should probably be read “NA”; Nicolaes van Suchtelen was a magistrate and later in life burgomaster of Hoorn. This is the only known signed painting known by this excellent artist.