Jean Francois de la Motte
1635 – 1685
A Trompe l’Oeil Still Life with Painter’s Tools and Props including a Palette, Mahlstick, Paint Brushes, Watch, Horn, Candlestick, an Hour Glass and other Objects
Medium:
Oil on Canvas
Category:
Dimensions:
65(h) x 70(w) cms
Framed Dimensions:
72.5(h) x 76.5(w) cms
Signed:
signed in the lower left corner of the illusory 'canvas': JF Motte
Essay:
Jean-Francois De la Motte was born in Tournai in the Southern Netherlands near the border with France in 1635. Little seems to be known about the early career of De la Motte, but a trompe l'oeil painting by the artist does give his address as "peintre demeurant sur la paroisse Saint Piat a Tournai".
De la Motte must have been working in Antwerp as he was elected a member of the Guild of St. Luke in 1653. From 1659 - 1677 he is well recorded as working on painting commissions for decorative work and in 1670 he collaborated with A. Berlaimont on ornamental decorations for the second Triumphal entrance of Louis XIV into Tournai.
In his Vanitas pictures the influence of Dutch paintings of contemporary artists is evident, especially those of the Leiden School. Letters, sealing wax, scissors, quills and prints all appear with regularity in his compositions. In the prints he includes in his compositions he often represented the work of David Teniers and Andries Both. His last signed and dated picture is in the Museum at Strasbourg and is dated 1685.
Provenance:
Private Collection, France