Jan Frans van Dael

Who was Jan Frans van Dael?

Jan Frans van Dael, was a Flemish painter of fruit and flowers.

He was born in Antwerp in 1764, but went early to Paris and settled there. He was self-instructed in art, but made such progress that he soon distinguished himself at the exhibitions, on one occasion obtaining the prize of 4000 francs, and on two others, the large gold medal. His style is in the manner of Van Huysum and Van Spaendonck, although he did not confine himself strictly to fruit and flowers, but painted other subjects, in which such objects might with propriety be introduced.

Two of his pictures, which he painted for the Empress Joséphine, represent 'An Offering to Flora,' and 'The Tomb of Julia'; the latter is now in the Louvre. His master-piece, known as 'La Croisée,' the fruit of three years' labour, was likewise purchased by the Empress Joséphine, and is now in a private collection at Liège. He was also patronized by the Empress Marie Louise, who took one of his pictures with her to Parma. He died in Paris in 1840, and was buried in the cemetery of Père Lachaise by the side of his friend Van Spaendonck. The Louvre also has by him three pictures of 'Flowers' and one of 'Fruit.'