Large Floral Still-Life

Belvedere was one of the leading proponents of still-life painting in Naples. His works were largely inspired by those of his teacher Paolo Porpora, as well as the works of Giovanni Battista Ruoppolo.

The present painting depicts a floral still-life with peonies, parrot tulips, mallow, larkspur, iris, and nasturtiums. It derives much of its charm from the contrast between the opulent asymmetrical arrangement of sunlit flowers in the foreground and the monochrome shadowy landscape background. This pronounced chiaroscuro is typical of Belvedere’s works.