Nicolas Baudesson, who lived in Paris and spent a long period of time in Rome, was celebrated in the latter town as the best flower painter of his time (Benezit: "Le meilleur peintre de fleurs de l'epoque"). In his work, the artist referred to both schools of French flower painting prevalent in the 17th century: the first was mainly inspired by Flemish and Netherlandish still life painting and concentrated above all on the perfect imitation of nature in the manner of the De Heem family of painters, whereas the decorative and theatrical manner of the banquet still life practiced in the latter half of the century derived from Italy, its most famous exponent having been Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer. Baudesson's oeuvre is a perfect exampl...