57. French school, 17th century Still Life with Fruit and Crockery on a Table with a Velvet Tablecloth a pair, oil on canvas a pair, oil on canvas 73.6 x 98.2cm (29 x 38 11/16in). (2) Provenance Sale, Casa d'aste Bruschi, Florence, December 1970 (as Meiffren Conte) Private collection, Florence Fine examples of French still life painting of the later part of the 17th Century, the present pair of works reveal the influence not just of Meiffren Conte (Marseille 1630-1705), as they were described when on the market in Florence in 1970, but also Jacques Hupin (d. 1680). Both artists are believed to have travelled to Rome in the mid-17th Century to further their artistic training. The artist of the present pair of still-lifes demonstrates a clear fascination with and skill in describing the varying textures of the items of luxury depicted - the brilliance of the silver and silver-gilt objects contrasting with the softness of the textiles draped on the tables.