JAN VAN KESSEL the Elder (1626 Antwerp 1679) Counterparts: Bouquets of flowers with roses, anemones and carnations. Oil on copper. Each 10 × 7 cm. Provenance: - Private collection, Netherlands. - Art dealer P. de Boer, Amsterdam, 1985. - Auction Christie's, Amsterdam, 25/11/2014, lot 112. - European collection. Exhibition: Delft 1985, XXXVII Oude Kunst- en Antiekbeurs, illus. in cat. S. 96. Jan van Kessel was the son of Hieronymus van Kessel (1578-1636) and Paschasia Brueghel, the daughter of Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625). He was active in Antwerp and became a member of the St Luke's Guild there in 1645. He continued the tradition of his grandfather and was also influenced by Daniël Seghers (1590-1661). Van Kessel painted garlands and bouquets, but he is best known for his small, jewel-like images of insects or shells, often painted on copper, with vivid colours and great attention to detail, such as the pair of paintings offered here. Dr Fred G. Meijer confirmed their authenticity in 2014 after inspecting the originals. These objects marked with * (asterisk) are fully subject to VAT, i.e. VAT will be charged on the hammer price plus buyer's premium. Buyers who present a legally stamped export declaration will be reimbursed the VAT.