Frans van Everbroeck, who had been a pupil in Antwerp of Joris van Son (1623 – 1667), specialised in fruit and in flower still lifes: deceptive representations of garlands round a central cartouche or individual swags. At the end of his career van Everbroeck left his hometown Antwerp for London.

 

This is our painter’s absolute masterpiece. At last he did not limit himself either to a single garland or to a set of them grouped around a central motif. The complete surface of the composition is filled with the most magnificently painted fruits, flowers, corn, leaves, set against a ruined Classical wall. Flemish Baroque at its best.

 

 

Flemish painter

Probably Antwerp, circa 1638 – 1676/1693, London or Antwerp?

 

Painter of fruit and of Vanitas still lifes.

 

The father of van Everbroeck must also have been a painter, as our painter was inscribed as apprentice in the Antwerp Painter’s Guild as ‘wijnmeester’, meaning he was the son of a Master of this guild. Frans studied under the prominent still life painter Joris van Son (Antwerp 1623 – 1667 Antwerp). He became Master in the year 1661/1662.

 

Van Everbroeck was active in Antwerp, but in 1667 he worked for a short time in Amsterdam. In September 1673 he was last mentioned in Antwerp. In 1676 he was admitted to the Painter’s Guild in London. In the period 1689 to 1693, paintings by van Everbroeck were regularly offered at English auctions, so possibly at that time he was still active in London.

 

Further information on his life is sketchy.