Jacob van Hulsdonck

From whom acquired by Edward Speelman, London, 15 October 1958 (who subsequently sold the pendant to Leegenhoek, Paris);

From whom acquired by the father of the present owner, 6 November 1959;

Thence by descent.

Jacob van Hulsdonck was an important pioneer in the development of still-life painting. He was born in Antwerp at the end of the 16th century, but as the son of Flemish Protestants, settled in Middelburg for a period of time in his early life. It is believed that while there Hulsdonck received his first training from Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder. He later returned to Antwerp, one of the earliest artistic centres for still-life painting as an independent genre. Hulsdonck joined the Antwerp guild as a master in 1608 and was here undoubtedly influenced and inspired by the depiction of flowers and food through the works of those Flemish artists who were innovating in the field – such as Frans Snijders, Osias Beert, and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

The majority of Hulsdonck's designs depict diverse fruits, usually placed in porcelain bowls or wicker baskets, of which around 35 to 40 examples are known. This composition is entirely typical of the latter sort of composition, with minutely rendered details and a characteristic focus on the assorted textures of the fruit, the variegated surfaces of the wooden table top and woven basket, and the droplets of water that appear almost to stand proud of the ledge in the foreground. Though the artist has restricted the composition to include only grapes, apricots, and plums, he depicts these fruits in a variety of aspects, providing the viewer with an almost scientific display of the qualities of each fruit. Hulsdonck likewise artfully uses the vine stems not only to give a sense of three-dimensionality, but also to balance the arrangement. To all of this are added the animating details of a fly, a butterfly, and a beetle, which have seemingly just alighted, or are about to scuttle out of sight.

Despite a long career of almost forty years, fewer than a hundred works by Hulsdonck are known, all of which are still lifes. Although the artist signed or monogrammed over half of his paintings, there appears to be only one dated example (an early Breakfast Piece of 1614, today in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle),¹ and since Hulsdonck's handling remains fairly consistent throughout his œuvre, it is difficult to establish a chronology of his work.

¹ Inv. no. B.M.99; oil on panel, 65.4 x 106.8 cm.; https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/breakfast-piece-45768