Exceptional pair of still lifes, Spanish school... Lot n° 16

Pair of oil paintings on canvas, with important Spanish period frames. Measurements (with frame) 115 x 82 cm. Juan de Arellano (Santorcaz, Madrid, 1614-Madrid, 1676). Spanish painter. He was an artist specialized primarily in flower paintings, with which he achieved great success, both artistic and financial. After a first stage dedicated to religious painting, he decided to abandon the figure to specialize in the floral genre. In this sense, it is necessary to transcribe the answer that the biographer and theorist Palomino put in his mouth when asked about his almost exclusive dedication to flower painting: "Because in this I work less and earn more." Palomino also reports on his possible visit to Alcalá de Henares before arriving in Madrid to work in Juan de Solís's workshop. Arellano must have sensed the success that flower painting could have at court, where the market for fans of this genre was largely nourished through imports. In his works we can intuit the overcoming of the tradition of Juan van der Hamen -continued by his student Antonio Ponce, in a more formal and rigid way-, transmuted in a more complicated Baroque direction. His first influences came from Flemish examples, especially Daniel Seghers, thanks to which he was able to give his works a meticulous and precious technique that he always preserved. In addition, he copied abundantly the works of the Roman Mario Nuzzi, known as Mario dei Fiori, one of the best definers of the genre and well known in Spain. From him he took a more moving formulation in the strokes that led him in the profuse and exuberant direction already commented. We know that he opened a store in the center of Madrid: as early as 1646 he had one on Calle de Atocha. It became one of the most important in the capital, where its works were known and acquired by a large number of nobles, as is stated in the abundant conserved inventories. In his workshop, in addition to flower paintings, there was room for other genres such as still lifes, portraits, landscapes, allegorical and religious subjects. Related literature: Latest vases. Juan de Arellano 1614-1676, cat. exp., Bilbao, Museum of Fine Arts, 1997. Juan de Arellano, 1614-1676, cat. exp., Madrid, Fundación Caja Madrid, 1998. Spanish Flowers of the Golden Age. Flower painting in 17th century Spain, cat. exp., Madrid,