Pseudo-Roestraten
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Pseudo-Roestraten or Pseudo-Roestraeten is the notname given to an artist or artists to whom or which are attributed a number of vanitas still lifes likely created in the period between 1675 and 1725. The notname was given as the artist's works show some resemblance to that of the Dutch painter Pieter Gerritsz van Roestraten. Recurring elements of the paintings are arrangements of books, documents and precious objects with a vanitas meaning displayed on oriental carpets. The artist(s) may have been of German or Scandinavian origin.[1] Many works of the anonymous artist are or were held in English collections, which makes it likely that the artist worked for some time in England.[2]
Around 1990 Fred G. Meijer of the Netherlands Institute for Art History created the notname 'Pseudo-Roestraten' for an unknown artist or unknown artists to whom he attributed a large number of still lifes with books, documents and precious objects in a style somewhat reminiscent of that of Pieter van Roestraeten. As the execution and quality of the work are inconsistent it is possible that this composite body of work was created by multiple artists, possibly of Scandinavian or German origin.[1]
An old man reading in one of the works shows similarities to the work of the Swedish painter Christian von Thum while another work auctioned at Sotheby's on 6 July 1999 bore the partially readable signature 'Johan Krog... Anno 1689'. As many works were held in early collections in England (such as a series of six overdoor pieces from Longleat House auctioned at Christie's on 14 June 2002), the artist or artists may have been based in England.[1]
