Artist's Magazine - USA (2020-05)

96 Artists Magazine May 2020

Lasting impression

Two Dutch artists—AdriaenvanderSpelt(1630–1673),

renownedforhispaintingsoffloralstilllifes,andFransvanMieris

(1635–1681),a meticulouspainteroffabrics—combinedtheirtalents

toproducea fascinating17th-centuryexampleofrealism.Thepainting

referencesa taletoldbyPlinytheElder(23–79A.D.)abouttwoGreek

artists,ZeuxisandParrhasius,whocompetedtodeterminewhowas

thegreaterpainter.Accordingtothestory,birdspeckedatZeuxis’

paintingbecausetheythoughthisgrapeslookedsoreal.Theking

askedthatthecurtainbedrawnbacksothathecouldviewParrhasius’

painting.Parrhasiuswonthecontest,becausethecurtainwas

hispainting.Ratherthancompete,thesetwoDutchartistsworked

togethertocreateanamazingandmemorablepainting.

LAURIN MCCRACKEN

Artist and Member, American Watercolor Society and National Watercolor Society

Trompe-l'Oeil Still Life With a Flower Garland and a Curtain

by Adriaen van der Spelt and Frans van Mieris

1658; oil on panel, 18¼x25⅛

THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

WIRT D. WALKER FUND; IMAGE COURTESY OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO.