Jan van Kessel the Elder

Key facts

Lived

1626–1679, Dutch

Movements

• still life
• floral painting

Works held in

30 museums^[1]

• Allegory of air and water

  Musée des Beaux-Arts de Quimper

  Quimper, France

  2 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
• Basket of flowers

  Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angers

  Logis Barrault, France

  1 works

  Museum detailsMap

Plan your visit to see Jan van Kessel the Elder →

• Jan van kessel the elder?+

  The fame of Jan Brueghel rests on his skill in depicting and arranging luxuriant bunches of flowers, sometimes accompanied by unusual items, such as coins, insects, and jewels. In letters from Antwerp and Brussels, Brueghel underlines the effort it took to compose these bunches.
• What is Jan van Kessel the Elder's most famous work?+

  It is difficult to name a single "most famous work" by Jan van Kessel the Elder, as his output was varied and he is known for different types of paintings. He produced many studies of animals; examples include "Sheet with Animals and Garlands", "Sketches of Ducks and Birds", and "Studies of Hunting Dogs". Van Kessel also collaborated with other artists, including Rubens, on allegorical works. These include "Allegory of Fire", "Allegory of Hearing", "Allegory of Sight", "Allegory of Smell", "Allegory of Spring", and "Allegory of Taste". Another collaborative work is "The Garden of Eden with the Fall of Man". Other paintings by van Kessel include "Port Scene in Venice", "Vase of Flowers with Jewel, Coins and Shells", and "View of the Interior of the Colosseum".
• What should I know about Jan van Kessel the Elder's prints?+

  Jan van Kessel the Elder (1626-1679) was a Flemish artist from Antwerp who painted still lifes and cabinet pictures. He came from an artistic family; his mother was the daughter of Jan Brueghel the Elder, and his son, Jan van Kessel the Younger, also became a painter. Prints in seventeenth-century Antwerp were bought and sold in bulk. Art dealers were less concerned with signatures or firm attributions than with the characteristics, subject matter, and themes associated with particular artists. Paintings in the manner of a popular artist, such as Jan Brueghel the Elder, were desirable, even if they could not be definitively attributed. These paintings could then be sold on the art market under the more famous name. Therefore, it is important to consider the provenance and attribution of any prints attributed to Jan van Kessel, as misattributions were common.
• What style or movement did Jan van Kessel the Elder belong to?+

  Jan van Kessel the Elder (1626-1679) was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp. His style is associated with Flemish Baroque art, particularly known for detailed, small-scale paintings of still life subjects. Still life paintings were popular in the Netherlands during the 17th century. These works often served as celebrations of nature, but also as symbols of the transience of life; even natural beauty will eventually fade. Flemish still life painting sometimes incorporated a dialectical principle in its compositional structure. Details such as snails crawling across vine leaves, discoloured foliage, curling grain, or bursting fruit conveyed the transience of worldly life. Van Kessel's paintings often included insects and animals, rendered with considerable precision. His close attention to detail and technique added depth and clarity to his surfaces.
• What techniques or materials did Jan van Kessel the Elder use?+

  Jan van Kessel the Elder (1626-1679) was a Flemish artist from Antwerp. He is known for small-scale paintings of subjects from the natural world. Van Kessel often painted on copper. This support allowed for a smooth surface and fine detail. Many of his works feature insects, flowers, and animals rendered with scientific precision. He worked in oil paint, building up layers of glazes to create luminosity and depth. His technique involved careful observation and detailed rendering. Van Kessel sometimes used a magnifying glass to study his subjects. This allowed him to capture minute details of insect anatomy or flower structures. He also relied on printed sources for some of his imagery. These included natural history books and emblem books. These sources provided reference material for exotic or less accessible specimens. Van Kessel's paintings often have a decorative quality, reflecting the taste for collecting and displaying natural curiosities during the 17th century. His use of colour and composition creates a sense of harmony and balance within these small-format works.
• What was Jan van Kessel the Elder known for?+

  Jan van Kessel the Elder (1626-1679) was a Flemish artist from Antwerp, known for small-scale paintings of subjects from the natural world. These include insects, flowers, and allegories of the senses. Kessel came from an artistic family; his mother was the daughter of Jan Brueghel the Elder, sometimes called "Velvet Brueghel". Jan Brueghel was known for his skill in depicting flowers, often including unusual items such as coins and jewels. He sometimes collaborated with Peter Paul Rubens. Brueghel made great effort to compose his flower bunches, waiting for different species to bloom. Because he had good relations with the ruling Archduchess of the Netherlands, he had access to royal greenhouses. Kessel, like his grandfather, became known for detailed paintings of flowers and other subjects.
• When did Jan van Kessel the Elder live and work?+

  Jan van Kessel the Elder (1626-1679) was a Flemish artist active in Antwerp. He came from an artistic family: his mother was the daughter of Jan Brueghel the Elder, and his father, Hieronymus van Kessel the Younger, was also a painter. Van Kessel primarily painted small-scale works, often on copper. These include still lifes, animal studies, and allegorical subjects. His detailed style and scientific interest in the natural world are apparent in his depictions of insects, flowers, and animals. He became a master in the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1645/46. He remained in Antwerp throughout his career, where he produced paintings for local collectors and for export. Van Kessel's paintings were popular during his lifetime, and they continue to be admired for their precision and decorative appeal. Several of his children, including Jan van Kessel the Younger, followed in his footsteps as painters.
• Where can I see Jan van Kessel the Elder's work?+

  Jan van Kessel the Elder (1626-1679) was a Flemish painter known for his small-scale, detailed depictions of subjects from the natural world. These include insects, flowers, animals, and allegorical compositions. While a comprehensive list of locations holding his work is unavailable, some museums with collections of similar artists may hold pieces by van Kessel. These include the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, which holds works by Hieronymus Bosch, and the National Gallery in London, which holds Dutch Golden Age paintings. The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg also has a collection of 17th-century Flemish paintings. Researching museum websites and catalogues directly is advisable to confirm the presence and availability of specific works by Jan van Kessel the Elder. Bear in mind that museum holdings can change, and not all works are always on display.
• Where was Jan van Kessel the Elder from?+

  Jan van Kessel the Elder was born and worked in Antwerp, now part of Belgium. He came from an artistic family; his mother was the daughter of Jan Brueghel the Elder, and his father, Hieronymus van Kessel the Younger, was also a painter. Baptised on 5 April 1626, Van Kessel spent his entire career in Antwerp. He became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke, the painters' organisation, in 1645-1646. Van Kessel married Maria van Uppen in 1647, and they had thirteen children. Several of their sons, including Jan van Kessel the Younger and Ferdinand van Kessel, also became painters. His work was popular, and he enjoyed the patronage of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, who served as Governor of the Southern Netherlands during the artist's lifetime. Van Kessel died in Antwerp on 17 April 1679.
• Who did Jan van Kessel the Elder influence?+

  Critics have examined Jan van Kessel the Elder's artistic links to later movements since the late nineteenth century. One can see the influence of Dutch painting, generally, even into the eighteenth century. Although critical theory continued to look down on what was seen as simple imitation of nature, the influence remained. Townscape painters were surprisingly influential, even outside the Dutch Republic; the link to Venetian *veduta* of the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries seems clear. Manet found his personal aesthetic through engagement with Hals’s manner. Van Gogh ascended to these ranks, in part through his deliberate engagement with the art of Hals and Manet. Modern painters who engaged with Impressionism were characterised as artistic descendants of Hals; by extension, Hals came to be discussed in Impressionist terms. Writers on Hals routinely focused on the elements that Impressionist artists such as Manet had appropriated and that critics had labelled as Impressionistic.
• Who influenced Jan van Kessel the Elder?+

  Like other artists, Jan van Kessel the Elder would have been influenced by the masters that preceded him. According to artistic and literary theory, pupils typically followed a three-step process of development. First, *translatio* involved making close copies for technical study. Second, *imitatio* required making variants to show an understanding of structure and style. Finally, *aemulatio* meant creating a version that surpassed the original model. Franciscus Junius advised artists to use the best masters for guidance, improving upon their work as a form of homage and a display of their own skill. This approach involved recognising and building upon existing artistic achievements. By acknowledging these influences, viewers gain a deeper understanding of the artist's creative process and accomplishments. Van Kessel's influences would have been a mixture of direct instruction, observation, and emulation of established artists.
• Who was Jan van Kessel the Elder?+

  There seems to be a mix-up. The provided texts largely discuss Jan Brueghel the Elder, not Jan van Kessel the Elder. Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625) was a still-life painter working in Flanders. He innovated art collection paintings, also known as Kunstkammern or Wunderkammern (rooms of art or wonder). These paintings depict the vast collections of exotic items, such as seashells, insects, rare flowers, scientific instruments, and paintings, amassed by the aristocracy and the wealthy. Brueghel collaborated with Peter Paul Rubens on a set of paintings called *The Five Senses*. One painting from this series, *Allegory of Sight*, depicts a Wunderkammer. The collection shown in the painting is that of the Habsburg Archduke and Archduchess, Albert and Isabella. They are shown in a double portrait by Rubens. Brueghel was known for his skill in depicting flowers. He would paint flowers from life, waiting for different species to bloom. He had access to the royal greenhouses, where botanical grafts, including tulips, were cultivated.