Carnations, snake's head, narcissi and other flowers in a glass vase on a stone ledge; and Parrot tulips, chrysanthemums, cornflowers and other flowers in a glass vase on a stone ledge

Born in Lille, Monnoyer studied history painting in Antwerp at an early age, but had arrived in Paris by 1650, when he worked on the decoration of the Hôtel Lambert. Received into the Académie in 1665, he showed four flower still lifes at his first Salon in 1673, and soon became associated with this genre. As well as numerous commissions for Louis IV, Monnoyer worked at the Gobelins and Beauvais, designing floral borders for tapestries. He worked under Philippe de Champaigne on the decoration of the Queen's apartment at Vincennes.

In 1690, Monnoyer accompanied a group of painters headed by Charles de la Fosse, at the invitation of Ralph, later 1st Duke of Montagu, to decorate Montagu House. He also worked at Burlington House and Kensington Palace, and died in London in 1699.