Charles Gaudelet, Still Life with a Bouquet, Goldfinch & Spider, Antique Watercolour

This beautiful mid-19th-century watercolour by French artist Charles Gaudelet (1826-1878) depicts a bouquet of flowers emerging from a Chinese vase, together with a goldfinch. Gaudelet was a notable master glass-maker and occasional watercolourist.

Produced in 1843, during the early part of Gaudelet’s career, a high degree of fine draughtsmanship is coupled with a burst of decorative colours. The vase itself is rendered with careful observation and almost certainly based upon a piece he owned. While the flora is arranged to create both balance and visual harmony. The inclusion of a goldfinch is an interesting one as Gaudelet held a passion for the Old Masters and would’ve been aware of its religious significance. Goldfinches often appear in works as representations of the Resurrection of Christ.

Born in Paris, as Jean Charles Paul Gaudelet, little is known about Gaudelet's education. It’s evident, though, that he trained either under a local master or via one of the foremost academies. By the late 1840s, he’d produced stained glass for numerous ecclesiastical buildings, including for the Église Saint-André de Lille. He worked alongside the painter, Victor-Louis Mottez (1809-1897), and Bruno Joseph Chérier (1817-1880). Many of his works were completed in Lille, where he spent most of his life.

He was known as a skilful technician, with a remarkable sense of pride in his work, which isn’t surprising given his keenness as a collector. Following his death in 1870, an estate sale included a variety of decorative objects and curiosities, from Sèvres porcelain throughout to Flemish and Dutch 17th-century paintings.

It’s interesting that he collected works by the Flemish-born Dutch still life painter, Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder (1573-1621), as there’s a similarity in styles. Bosschaert’s floral still lifes, when designed with a vertical composition, such as his Still Life With Flowers from 1618, are clearly an inspiration.

He was a member of the Commission of the Museum of Archaeology.

Signed/dated in the lower right, also dated on the vase, and held in its original 19th-century ornate Rococo-revival gilt frame.

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Medium: Watercolour with bodycolour on card.

Overall size: 31.5½” x 38” / 80cm x 98cm

Year of creation: 1843

Provenance: Private collection, UK.

Condition: Cleaned and restored. Areas of fading and minor marks. Frame with various marks and showing its age.

Our reference: BRV1305