Jan van Kessel (1626-1679) was a Flemish painter born in the Dutch port city of Antwerp. He belonged to a distinguished family of painters , with his grandfather Jan Brueghel the Elder and his uncle David Teniers the Younger as his teachers . In 1645 he joined the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp as a pupil of the history painter Simon de Vos .

Jan van Kessel Biography

• Born April 5, 1626 in Antwerp, Belgium
• Between 1634 and 1635 he was enrolled in the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp as a pupil of the history painter Simon de Vos.
• In 1644, he was recognized as a master.
• In 1645 he joined the Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp.
• Died in Antwerp on April 17, 1679 (aged 53)

Representative works

• "Bouquet of Flowers"
• "Forest Floor with Insects and Reptiles"
• Allegory of the Four Continents
• Allegory of the Five Senses

Van Kessel's style and achievements

Van Kessel was a versatile artist who worked in many genres , including flowers, insects, marine life, landscapes, allegories, animals and genre scenes . His works are characterised by meticulous detail, realistic depictions and vivid colours.

Van Kessel's still lifes are renowned for their sensitivity and accuracy , particularly in his depictions of flowers and insects : he observed the beauty and diversity of the natural world like a scientist and transformed it into works of art.

Van Kessel was highly acclaimed during his lifetime, but after his death his popularity temporarily declined. However, in recent years his work has been reevaluated, and he has established himself as one of the leading painters of 17th century Flemish painting .