Gerard van Lerven (1885-1966) - Bloemstilleven

This atmospheric floral still life shows a bouquet of blooming flowers, painted in a warm and restrained color palette of deep reds, browns, ochres, and greens. The flowers stand out powerfully against the dark background, with the red-pink bloom in the upper left and the light-colored, pendant corollas drawing the eye in particular. With a loose, expressive brushwork and a rich, impasto application of paint, the artist has captured the fragile forms of the flowers in a striking way. The visible brushstrokes and subtle light highlights give the work a lively texture and enhance the sense of depth. The hanging petals and muted colors evoke a sense of transience, a classic theme within still-life painting. The painting exudes a tranquil, melancholic beauty, in which the natural brilliance of flowers and the inevitable passage of time come together emotively.

Gerard van Lerven is the brother of N.H. van Lerven. He lived and worked in Arnhem and was a student at the Royal Academy of Applied Arts in Amsterdam under the leadership of G. Sturm. He painted, drew, and etched landscapes and village scenes (urban quarters), among others in the Betuwe, Corsica, the South of France, and Paris. He also painted flower still lifes and a single portrait. From 1914 to 1951, van Lerven was the director of the Akademie ‘Kunstoefening’ in Arnhem.

Framed dimensions: 36 x 31 cm
Unframed dimensions: 21 x 16 cm

Viewing is of course possible. In addition, we have our own in-house framers, who are celebrating their 85th anniversary year. We also work with restorers from the professional association: 'Restauratoren Nederland'. If you wish to make use of these services, please let us know."