Carlo dei Fiori

“CARLO DEI FIORI”; CAREL VAN VOGELAER (Maastricht, Netherlands, 1658 – Rome, 1695).
“Vase of Flowers.”
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 74.5 x 64 cm; 95 x 83 cm (frame).
The floral richness of this composition and the meticulous detail with which its various species are depicted reveal one of the most characteristic aspects of Carel van Vogelaer, known in Italy as “Carlo dei Fiori.” The artist creates an exuberant bouquet of flowers in which the descriptive precision of the Dutch tradition is combined with dramatic lighting and a fully Baroque arrangement of a more Italian character.
Roses and carnations, recurring motifs in his work, share the spotlight with tulips and small white and blue flowers. The composition takes on the appearance of a cascade of foliage, with flowers and leaves cascading down the sides and partially concealing the vase. Barely visible is one of the ornamental putti, whose decoration reflects the classical and sumptuous style characteristic of Flemish and Italian vases of the period.
Special mention should be made of the small strawberry in the foreground, whose rendering demonstrates Vogelaer’s ability to capture the tactile qualities of natural elements. Among Vogelaer’s known works, this composition finds particularly significant parallels in the two vases preserved at Felbrigg Hall, which belong to the British National Trust’s collection. These paintings, conceived as a pair, also feature exuberant bouquets of flowers. It is also interesting to compare them with the vases housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen and the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, where other compositions attributed to the artist are found.
Carel van Vogelaer spent virtually his entire career in Italy, where he was known as “Carlo dei Fiori” for his exuberant floral compositions. Born in Maastricht, he moved to Rome during his youth, where he furthered his training under Carlo Maratta. He was a member of the Bentvueghels, a society of Dutch and Flemish artists, where he was given the nickname “Distelbloem” (thistle). His work is characterized by a combination of meticulous Dutch naturalism with the rich colors and dramatic lighting of the Italian Baroque. His works are represented in public collections such as the British National Trust, the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Bavarian State Painting Collections, and the John Paul II Collection Museum in Warsaw.