Spanish school of the 19th century

Spanish school of the 19th century.
Pair of "Still lifes of flowers".
Oil on canvas.
Presents frame of the time.
Measurements: 74 x 60 cm; 83 x 60 cm (frame), each one.
In this canvas the author presents us a still life of flowers and birds of clear baroque influence, directly inspired by the great Spanish masters who shaped the genre in our country: Sánchez Cotán, Van der Hamen, Tomás Yepes, Pedro de Camprobín and -to a greater extent because we are in front of the typology of still life of flowers- Juan de Arellano, the latter born in Madrid in 1614 and died in the same city in 1676.
The origin of the still life genre in Spain can be found in the first years of the 17th century, when it is still approached in a rational and rigorous style, of Mannerist heritage. However, as the Baroque progressed, still lifes and flower paintings became more and more dynamic, the compositions opened up and became more naturalistic and theatrical. The flowers of the full baroque will be shown as we see here, completely open, almost about to wither and very volumetric, bringing dynamism and scenographic sense to the image, leaving behind the static and contemplative eagerness of the still life of the first baroque. The composition also has its roots in the full Spanish Baroque, with the elements that make up the still life placed before a classicist landscape background, open on one side and closed on the other. Other typical features of the traditional Spanish still life, which the author of this canvas masters with mastery, are the careful study of light, which creates sharp hallmarks to enhance the volume of the various elements; the care of the qualities of the different petals and flowers; and the accentuated realism of almost illusionist accent, supported by a rigorous drawing and the skillful handling of chiaroscuro.