Roses, carnations and other flowers in an urn on a carved stone ledge

This painting, once attributed to the French painter Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer, was recognized in 2000 to be by Jean-Michel Picart. The Flemish artist moved to Paris around 1635, working in Saint Germain-des-Près alongside other Flemish émigrés, building his career on floral and fruit still lifes. As his success grew, Picart competed against other artists such as Monnoyer for commissions, and his works entered collections including King Louis XV.
Fabrice Fare endorsed the attribution of the present painting to Picart on the basis of photographs when the painting was auctioned in 2006 (Christie's, London, 7 December 2006, lot 59).