Peter van Kessel
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Peter van Kessel or Peeter van Kessel[1] (Antwerp, c. 1635 – Ratzeburg, early October 1668) was a Flemish still life painter who worked in a number of sub-genres but is principally known for his flower pieces, game pieces, garland paintings and vanitas paintings. He trained in Antwerp but mainly worked abroad, and in particular in Northern Europe.[2]
Little is known about the life and training of Peter van Kessel. He was likely born in Antwerp between 1630 and 1640.[2] He is not mentioned in the records of the Guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp, which may indicate that he trained and later worked in the workshop of a family member who was a master of the guild.[3] It is not clear whether he was related to the van Kessel family of still life painters, which was related to the Brueghel family of artists.[4] The earliest known work by the artist dates from 1658.[5]
In 1658 the artist was likely active in Germany as he should likely be identified with the artist referred to as Peter Kessel who was recorded in Würzburg and Bamberg at that time.[2][4] He is later recorded in Gdańsk. On his way to work at the court in Copenhagen, he stayed for a while in Lübeck in 1668. Here he worked initially in the workshop of the local painter Burchard Wulff. Later the dean of the local painter's guild Hans Götjens allowed him to work on his own. Götjens also let van Kessel stay in his home. This gave rise to a conflict between dean Gotjens and the local painter's guild which filed a complaint accusing the dean of allowing a foreign master to practise the painter's trade without being properly registered with the local guild. The guild members also felt insulted because Götjens had stated that none of them could paint as well as van Kessel.
From the documents relating to the complaint it appears that van Kessel was at the time just stopping over for about a month in Lübeck while he was on his way to Copenhagen to which he had been allegedly called by the Danish king. Van Kessel was separately also accused of having made derogatory remarks about the members of the Council of Lübeck in retribution of which he was threatened with arrest. A wigmaker paid van Kessels bail for him and in return van Kessel painted some works for the wigmaker.[4]
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Later van Kessel travelled to Copenhagen where he worked at the Danish court.[6] He died in Ratzeburg in early October 1668.[2]
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