David Rijckaert II, was a Flemish painter and art dealer active in Antwerp.
Background
David Rijckaert II was born in Antwerp in 1586. His father was David Rijckaert the Elder, a brewer and a staffage painter of wooden statues who had become a master of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1585. His mother was Catharina Rem.
David trained with his father and became a master of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1607-1608.
Career
He contributed to the early development of still lifes as and independent genre through his delicate rendering of banquets and sumptuous tabletop still lifes. David Rijckaert II spent his entire career in Antwerp. The couple had at least two children: Catharina in 1610 and David III in 1612.
Some records note a second daughter Martina born in 1616.
Possibly they had a second son by the name of Pauwels who also became a painter. In addition to his activities as a painter, David Rijckaert II was also active as an art dealer.
David Rijckaert II died in 1642 in Antwerp where he was buried on 3 October of that year. The known works of David Rijckaert II fall into two categories: sumptuous still lifes of porcelain, expensive glassware, silverware, pewter dishes, et cetera and so-called ‘banketjes’, id est (that is) banquet or breakfast pieces depicting food on a tabletop.
Ryckaert’s compositions are painstakingly constructed with meticulous attention to detail.
The objects and forms are arranged in separation from each other on the inclined surface of a table. By juxtaposing food, dishes and precious objects within various planes in space David Rijckaert II is able to increase their legibility. The frontal and distributive presentation is still archaic while his attention for detail and strong realism show his adherence to the Flemish tradition.
Characteristic for his style are the dark abstract backgrounds and the bright, enamel-like colours.
Membership
Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke. Ryckaert family.