The painter Jan van Huysum lived for his entire life in his native Amsterdam. He was trained by his father Justus, who painted flower pieces and interior decoration. Van Huysum is primarily known as a painter of highly realistic flower still lifes. They are unusual because their composition is generally asymmetrical and the flowers are positioned against a light background. In addition to these still lifes, Van Huysum also painted a number of pastoral landscapes. It was his fame as a still-life painter, however, that won him his international clientele. He was one of the best paid painters of his day.

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