Simon Pietersz. Verelst Paintings

Simon Pietersz. Verelst was a Dutch Golden Age painter, recognized for his contributions to the genre of flower painting. Born in The Hague in 1644, Verelst developed his artistic skills in a period when Dutch art was flourishing with great demand for still lifes and in particular, floral compositions. He was part of a family of painters; his father Pieter Hermansz Verelst and his brothers Herman and Johannes Verelst were also painters. This familial environment provided a fertile ground for his early artistic development. Simon Verelst's work was characterized by its fine detail, vibrant colors, and the ability to capture the delicacy of flowers. He initially painted in The Hague, but his reputation led him to move to London around 1669, where he found patronage under King Charles II. In London, Verelst achieved great success and was referred to as the 'God of Flowers'. His paintings were highly prized, and he was among the first artists to specialize in flower pieces that featured single blooms or small groups of flowers against a plain background, which was quite innovative at that time. Despite his initial success, Verelst's later years were marked by obscurity and financial difficulty. His exact date of death is not well documented, but it is believed that he died in London in 1721. Today, his works can be found in major museums and collections around the world, where they are celebrated for their beauty and historical significance in the Dutch tradition of flower painting.