Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen the Younger

His father was a successful still life painter and the young Gaspar Peeter grew up in a prosperous home.

[4] In 1694 he gave one of his works called Flower garland surrounding a statue of Apollo (Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp) to the Guild in thanks for accepting his pupils Balthasar Hyacinth Verbruggen and Jacob Melchior van Herck without paying a fee.

His old art friends arranged for him to take the job of 'knaap' (boy) at the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke, a position he held from 1723 to the time of his death.

[3] His pupils included his half-brother Balthasar Hyacinth Verbruggen (son of his father and his second wife Sara Catharina Raeps), Jacob Melchior van Herck (who was his brother-in-law, half-brother or step brother), Frans d'Olivero, Peter Frans Casteels and Gillis Vinck.

[2] In its use of broad, impasto brush strokes, the style of his work reflects developments initiated by Italian artists Mario Nuzzi and Michele Pace del Campidoglio.

[6] His works represent a development towards a more decorative style in late 17th century Flemish still life painting.

Paintings in this genre typically show a flower or, less frequently, fruit garland around a devotional image or portrait.

The cartouche in the center of Verbruggen's garland paintings was usually filled with non-religious imagery such as portraits and mythological scenes.

X-ray investigation and archival research have revealed that originally there was a figure of a woman in the centre, which was painted over and replaced by the flower vase in the early 20th century.