Vase of Flowers
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Description
The Artist
Giacomo Recco was born in Naples in 1603 and is considered to be one of the founders of still life painting in Naples during the 17th century. Giacomo is known for specializing in painting flower subjects and as being inspired by Mannerist art of the late 16th century [1]. Scholars such as Raffaello Causa, believe it is likely that Giacomo was influenced by the works of Flemish artists such as Jan Brueghel, who was present in Naples around 1590 [2]. Scholars also suggest that the naturalism present in the work of Caravaggio, who briefly lived in Naples near the end of his life, was an influence in Giacomo’s compositions [3]. Although Giacomo was one of the first Neapolitan still-life painters and father to one of the most highly regarded 17th century still life painters, Giuseppe Recco, much of the identity of Giacomo still remains highly uncertain. There are few works that can be attributed to Giacomo for certain, and many of the works that have been attributed to Giacomo have been on a stylistic basis [4]. For example, Giacomo’s Vase of Flowers is his only painting that has been dated, dated 1626. It is likely that Giacomo established the Recco family workshop, which his son Giuseppe and future members of the Recco family would eventually work [5]. Within Giacomo’s workshop, he trained another notable Neapolitan still life painter: Paolo Porpora. A 1632 contract between Giacomo and Angela Cantalena, mother of Porpora, confirms that Porpora became a pupil of Giacomo’s starting at the age of 15 [6]. As suggested by Nicola Spinosa, the lack of information of Giacomo’s life also complicates the attribution of Giacomo’s most well-known pupil, Porpora [7].
Vase of Flowers
Vase of Flowers was created by Giacomo Recco in 1626, and it is the only painting of his that has been dated [8]. This oil on canvas painting measures 67 by 50 centimeters and is signed “G.R.” This single vase arrangement of flowers is richly decorated and likely influenced by sixteenth-century decoration of the Mannerist style. Although unfortunately pictured in black and white, we are unable to appreciate the colors used in the painting. The painting appears symmetrically balanced and highly organized with an unnatural lighting hitting the painting and the vase.
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Works Cited
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Middione, Roberto. “Recco Family.” Oxford Art Online, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t071027.
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Causa, Raffaello. La Natura Morta a Napoli Nel Sei e Nel Settecento. 5. Vol. 5. Storia Di Napoli. Napoli, Italia: Società editrice storia di Napoli, 1969.
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Middione, Roberto. “Recco Family.” Oxford Art Online, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.article.t071027.
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Damian Véronique, and Nicola Spinosa. “‘Natura in Posa’ in Seventeenth-Century Naples: Progress and Setbacks in Research.” Essay. In L'œil Gourmand: A Journey through Neapolitan Still Life of the 17th Century: Paris, Galerie Canesso, 26 September - 27 October 2007, 8–13. Paris, France: Galerie Canesso, 2007.
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Damian Véronique, and Nicola Spinosa. “‘Natura in Posa’ in Seventeenth-Century Naples: Progress and Setbacks in Research.” Essay. In L'œil Gourmand: A Journey through Neapolitan Still Life of the 17th Century: Paris, Galerie Canesso, 26 September - 27 October 2007, 8–13. Paris, France: Galerie Canesso, 2007.
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Damian Véronique and Claudia Salvi. “Giuseppe Recco.” Essay. In L'œil Gourmand: A Journey through Neapolitan Still Life of the 17th Century: Paris, Galerie Canesso, 26 September - 27 October 2007, 80-81. Paris, France: Galerie Canesso, 2007.
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Damian Véronique, and Nicola Spinosa. “‘Natura in Posa’ in Seventeenth-Century Naples: Progress and Setbacks in Research.” Essay. In L'œil Gourmand: A Journey through Neapolitan Still Life of the 17th Century: Paris, Galerie Canesso, 26 September - 27 October 2007, 8–13. Paris, France: Galerie Canesso, 2007.
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Causa, Raffaello. La Natura Morta a Napoli Nel Sei e Nel Settecento. 5. Vol. 5. Storia Di Napoli. Napoli, Italia: Società editrice storia di Napoli, 1969.
RKD. “Giovanni Battista Recco: Still Life with Fish and Oysters.” RKD – Netherlands Institute for Art History. RKD, October 31, 2019. https://rkd.nl/explore/images/295775.
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