Fine Art Poster
From $39
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
The Four Elements - Jan van Kessel the Elder
Regular price
$39.00 USD
Sale price
$39.00 USD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A still life by Jan van Kessel the Elder, "The Four Elements" depicts an allegorical representation of earth, air, fire, and water through a detailed arrangement of natural objects.
Jan van Kessel the Elder, a Flemish artist born in Antwerp, was known for his small-scale, highly detailed paintings of subjects from the natural world. Active in the mid-17th century, van Kessel specialised in still lifes, often depicting insects, flowers, and animals with scientific precision. His works reflect the contemporary interest in natural history and the burgeoning field of scientific observation. In "The Four Elements", van Kessel presents an allegorical still life representing earth, air, fire, and water. The composition is arranged around a stone niche. The lower portion of the painting features an array of sea creatures, shells, and crustaceans, symbolising water. Above, a collection of fruits and flowers, including tulips and roses, represents earth. Birds of various species populate the upper register, signifying air. A candle and other metallic objects allude to fire. The painting's meticulous detail and symbolic arrangement are characteristic of van Kessel's style, blending artistic skill with scientific curiosity.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Complete The Look
The Four Elements - Jan van Kessel the Elder
Regular price
From $39.00 USD
Sale price
From $39.00 USD
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / Small Square (30x30 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Jan Van Kessel The Elder
Van Kessel had thirteen children and numerous debts. He was captain of the Civic Guard in Antwerp, a productive artist with royal clients, and still died owing money. The combination of civic standing and insolvency was not unusual for seventeenth-century Flemish painters, but the scale of his family made it harder to manage.
He was born in Antwerp in 1626, the grandson of Jan Brueghel the Elder through his mother Paschasia. He studied under Simon de Vos and later received instruction from his uncle and godfather Jan Brueghel the Younger. He became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1644 as a flower painter, though flowers were only one of his subjects. He painted garlands, bouquets, marines, river landscapes, paradise scenes, allegories and genre subjects, but he is best known for tiny, jewel-like paintings of insects and shells on copper, depicted against light backgrounds with scientific exactitude.
He worked from nature and from illustrated scientific texts, blending direct observation with published sources. His small insect panels were sometimes produced in pairs or as series designed to decorate the fronts of cabinet drawers where collectors stored actual specimens. The paintings served as both art and catalogue.
He used two different signatures depending on the size of the painting: a cursive, decorative version for larger formats and a more compact form for miniatures. The practice was later misinterpreted as evidence that two different painters were at work. He spent time in Spain as court painter to Philip IV and as a captain in the King's army, probably in the late 1640s. He married Maria van Apshoven in 1647; of their thirteen children, Ferdinand and Jan the Younger also became painters. He died in Antwerp in 1679.
He was born in Antwerp in 1626, the grandson of Jan Brueghel the Elder through his mother Paschasia. He studied under Simon de Vos and later received instruction from his uncle and godfather Jan Brueghel the Younger. He became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1644 as a flower painter, though flowers were only one of his subjects. He painted garlands, bouquets, marines, river landscapes, paradise scenes, allegories and genre subjects, but he is best known for tiny, jewel-like paintings of insects and shells on copper, depicted against light backgrounds with scientific exactitude.
He worked from nature and from illustrated scientific texts, blending direct observation with published sources. His small insect panels were sometimes produced in pairs or as series designed to decorate the fronts of cabinet drawers where collectors stored actual specimens. The paintings served as both art and catalogue.
He used two different signatures depending on the size of the painting: a cursive, decorative version for larger formats and a more compact form for miniatures. The practice was later misinterpreted as evidence that two different painters were at work. He spent time in Spain as court painter to Philip IV and as a captain in the King's army, probably in the late 1640s. He married Maria van Apshoven in 1647; of their thirteen children, Ferdinand and Jan the Younger also became painters. He died in Antwerp in 1679.
Our Features
Designed for Lasting Impact
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Made to order
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Every piece is printed to order. These are the five finishes, and what makes each one different.
Fine Art Framed
From $119
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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Artist Biography
Jan van Kessel the Elder
Van Kessel had thirteen children and numerous debts. He was captain of the Civic Guard in Antwerp, a productive artist with royal clients, and still died owing money. The combination of civic standing and insolvency was not unusual for seventeenth-century Flemish painters, but the scale of his family made it harder to manage.
He was born in Antwerp in 1626, the grandson of Jan Brueghel the Elder through his mother Paschasia. He studied under Simon de Vos and later received instruction from his uncle and godfather Jan Brueghel the Younger. He became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1644 as a flower painter, though flowers were only one of his subjects. He painted garlands, bouquets, marines, river landscapes, paradise scenes, allegories and genre subjects, but he is best known for tiny, jewel-like paintings of insects and shells on copper, depicted against light backgrounds with scientific exactitude.
He worked from nature and from illustrated scientific texts, blending direct observation with published sources. His small insect panels were sometimes produced in pairs or as series designed to decorate the fronts of cabinet drawers where collectors stored actual specimens. The paintings served as both art and catalogue.
He used two different signatures depending on the size of the painting: a cursive, decorative version for larger formats and a more compact form for miniatures. The practice was later misinterpreted as evidence that two different painters were at work. He spent time in Spain as court painter to Philip IV and as a captain in the King's army, probably in the late 1640s. He married Maria van Apshoven in 1647; of their thirteen children, Ferdinand and Jan the Younger also became painters. He died in Antwerp in 1679.
He was born in Antwerp in 1626, the grandson of Jan Brueghel the Elder through his mother Paschasia. He studied under Simon de Vos and later received instruction from his uncle and godfather Jan Brueghel the Younger. He became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1644 as a flower painter, though flowers were only one of his subjects. He painted garlands, bouquets, marines, river landscapes, paradise scenes, allegories and genre subjects, but he is best known for tiny, jewel-like paintings of insects and shells on copper, depicted against light backgrounds with scientific exactitude.
He worked from nature and from illustrated scientific texts, blending direct observation with published sources. His small insect panels were sometimes produced in pairs or as series designed to decorate the fronts of cabinet drawers where collectors stored actual specimens. The paintings served as both art and catalogue.
He used two different signatures depending on the size of the painting: a cursive, decorative version for larger formats and a more compact form for miniatures. The practice was later misinterpreted as evidence that two different painters were at work. He spent time in Spain as court painter to Philip IV and as a captain in the King's army, probably in the late 1640s. He married Maria van Apshoven in 1647; of their thirteen children, Ferdinand and Jan the Younger also became painters. He died in Antwerp in 1679.
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