Michel Bouillon was an important painter of still lifes of often monumental dimensions. He was born in a small village just outside Tournai. When Bouillon was in his late forties Tournai was conquered by King Louis XIV of France. Our painter might thereafter also have worked in France, where an important number of his paintings can still be found. His artisitc production shows a mix of Flemish and of French elements.

 

 

Flemish painter

Born near Tournai in Ere, date unknown (circa 1620).

He passed away in or after 1674, place unknown (possibly in Tournai in 1677).

His last name is sometimes spelt “de Bouillon”.

 

Still life painter.

Bouillon painted flower, fruit, fish, game and market still lifes. An important part of them has large dimensions.

 

Bouillon joined the Painter’s Guild of Saint Luke in Tournai in 1638.

He seems to have been active the major part of his life in Tournai.

 

The young king of France, Louis XIV (1643 – 1715) succeeded in conquering on the Spaniards large parts of Flanders (Lille, Douai, Courtrai, Charleroi and Tournai) during the War of Devolution in 1667/68. 

Tournai remained in French hands until 1709.

According to the Bénézit Bouillon worked in France at the end of the 1660s.

In 1670 our painter worked with Jean(-François) Delmotte on the triumphal arches erected in Tournai for the visit of King Louis XIV.

 

Bouillon’s last dated still life is from 1674; it was sold at Christie’s New York, 2/07/88.

 

 

Because this beautiful composition holds not only a pealed lemon and a lively bouquet of flowers, but also two exceptional cups: a magnificent nautilus cup and a grand columbine cup.