The Life and Art of Joris van Son
Born in Antwerp, Belgium, Joris van Son was a Flemish still life painter who became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp during the 1643/1644 guild year. His artistic output was diverse, encompassing various sub-genres of still life, including fruit still lifes, flower pieces, banquet still lifes, vanitas still lifes, garland paintings, and pronkstillevens. He was also known for painting fish still lifes representing the Four Elements. His work was highly regarded by collectors, appearing in the collections of traders such as Geraert van Dorth and artists like Victor Wolfvoet.
Van Son's technical skill was particularly evident in his ability to render the physical qualities of fruit, such as the hairiness of peaches. In his garland paintings, he often collaborated with figure artists like Erasmus Quellinus II, Pieter Boel, and Frans Wouters, creating compositions where fruit or flower garlands framed devotional or secular images. His later work in the late 1650s transitioned into more modest still lifes with restrained composition and coloring, such as his depictions of fruit baskets, lobsters, and oysters.
Legacy and Family
The artist's personal life included membership in the pious bachelor society, the Sodaliteit van de Bejaerde Jongmans, in 1647. He was married to the mother of his children, Cornelia van Heulens, with whom he had a daughter, Maria Chatharina, and a son, Jan Frans. While Joris van Son died in Antwerp in 1667, his son Jan Frans went on to become a still life painter who worked in England.
Van Son's studio served as a training ground for several pupils, including:
