Peter van Kessel

Peter van Kessel or Peeter van Kessel (Antwerp, c. 1635 – Ratzeburg, early October 1668) was a Flemish still life painter who worked in a number of sub-genres but is principally known for his flower pieces, game pieces, garland paintings and vanitas paintings. He trained in Antwerp but mainly worked abroad, and in particular in Northern Europe.

Life Little is known about the life and training of Peter van Kessel. He was likely born in Antwerp between 1630 and 1640. It is not clear whether he was related to the van Kessel family of still life painters, which was related to the Brueghel family of artists. The earliest known work by the artist dates from 1658.

In 1658 the artist was likely active in Germany as he should likely be identified with the artist referred to as Peter Kessel who was recorded in Würzburg and Bamberg at that time. He died in Ratzeburg in early October 1668. This type of painting is very reminiscent of the still life in a niche paintings of earlier Flemish artists such as Osias Beert.

Garland paintings

A portion of van Kessel's output falls into the category of 'garland paintings'. Garland paintings are a type of still life invented in early 17th century Antwerp by Jan Brueghel the Elder and subsequently practised by leading Flemish still life painters, and in particular Daniel Seghers. Paintings in this genre typically show a flower or, less frequently, fruit garland around a devotional image or portrait. In the later development of the genre, the devotional image is replaced by other subjects such as portraits, mythological subjects and allegorical scenes.

Garland paintings were usually collaborations between a still life and a figure painter. Stylistically his garland paintings are close to those created by Jan van Kessel the Elder who may have been a family member.

While he painted some pure vanitas paintings, the vanitas theme is also present in his flower paintings. For instance, in the Floral still life in a niche with a stag beetle discussed above the wilting flowers express the vanitas theme of impermanence and death. A pure vanitas painting is his composition Vanitas still life (dated 1668, Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht). This composition contains the typical symbols present in vanitas paintings: a skull with a laurel wreath (referencing the passing of glory), dice (referencing the vicissitudes of life), a wine glass, sheet music and a violin (refencing the fleetingness of physical and spiritual pleasures), wilting flowers and an hourglass (refencing decay and the passing of time). The Vanitas still life in the Maribor Regional Museum in Maribor reprises many of the same symbols. In this work, objects that allude to military glory (military distinctions, a sword) are placed on the left while those referencing cultural achievements such as books and music are placed on the right. Physical and spiritual achievements are placed among the symbols of death and decay such as the extinguished candle, the skull and the wilting flowers to convey the idea that all achievements eventually fall into oblivion or extinction.