Laurens Craen

'Still Life with Imaginary View', oil on oak panel painting by Laurens Craen, c. 1645–50, Art Gallery of New South Wales Laurens Craen (c. 1620 in The Hague – c.1670 in Middelburg), was a Dutch Golden Age still life painter. Laurens Craen was active between 1638 and 1664. He was possibly the son of Pieter Craen.

Biography

Laurens Craen life and career is not as well known like his paintings that are well documented, a total of nineteen works are attributed to Craen. His name is mentioned in the archives of Middelburg, testifying that he was active there from 1655 till 1664. Craen was a member of the Guild of Saint Luke of Middelburg. He painted mainly in Middelburg (Zeeland), but was also active in Antwerp and The Hague. According to the RKD he was a fruit and flower still life painter from The Hague who was mentioned there in a letter to Constantijn Huygens and who later moved to Middelburg. His works show such a strong influence from Jan Davidsz de Heem that he is registered in Antwerp in 1645 and was possibly his pupil at that time.