Festoon of Fruit and Flowers

Born as Johannes van Antwerpen, the painter called himself Johannes de Heem but has always been mentioned as Jan Davidsz. de Heem in the literature. Died 26 April 1684. His father, David de Heem (the Elder) musician, died in 1612; his mother was N.N. de Heema. Husband of Aeltgen Cornelisdr van Weede and Anna Andriesdr Ruckers. Jan Davidsz.’s early works, produced in Leiden in the late 1620s, show the influence of interiors by Rembrandt and Jan Lievens. De Heem’s paintings include fruit-pieces, vanitas still-lifes and flower-pieces, but he became most famous for his ornate or sumptuous still-lifes.