Cornelis van Huynen

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Cornelis van Huynen (died 1703) was a Flemish still life painter from Antwerp, best known for fruit garlands and garland paintings. Little is known about his life. His birth date and place are unknown, but he is first recorded in 1654/1655 as a pupil of Joris van Son in the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp. He became a master in 1661–1662 and worked in Antwerp until his death in 1703, when his death dues were paid to the Guild.

Only a few works are firmly attributed to him. Two garland paintings signed by him are in the Prado Museum. Two more garland paintings in the National Museum in Warsaw are attributed to him (previously to Catarina Ykens II). Two pendant garlands of fruit were auctioned at Bonhams & Butterfields in 2003 and were attributed to Frans Ykens, but later assigned to Cornelis van Huynen by F. G. Meijer.

Van Huynen’s known works fall into two categories: garlands of fruit and garland paintings. He likely painted garlands of flowers as well, evidenced by a 1671 sale record from the dealer Forchondt. His style shows a strong kinship with his master Joris van Son and a knowledge of Antony van Dyck in his figures. Most of his still lifes are garland paintings.

Garland paintings are a type of still life that began in early 17th-century Antwerp. They usually show a flower or fruit garland around a devotional image or portrait and were often collaborations between a still life painter and a figure painter. Later, the central devotional image could be replaced by other subjects. The Prado garland paintings he produced have a devotional image in the center. The Warsaw examples feature portraits—one of a painter with a palette and another of a woman reading. In these works the garland often surrounds the central image, with flowers and fruit arranged in bands or sections and attached to a sculptural frame.