Not Everything Is as It First Appears

A lthough Abraham Mignon was born in Frankfurt, Germany, he is associated with the Dutch painters of his time.When Mignon was 9 years old, his parents, who were shopkeepers, arranged an apprenticeship with Jacob Marrel, a German still-life painter.Marrel had previously traveled to Utrecht, the Netherlands, to work and study, and he returned there in 1664 accompanied by Mignon, who was then 24.In 1669, both artists became members of the Guild of Saint Luke, and for several years Mignon studied and worked with fellow guild member, Jan Davidsz de Heem, a Dutch still-life specialist.The Rijksmuseum states, "Mignon's paintings of flowers and fruit feature the same opulent style of composition and the same brilliant colours as De Heem's work."Mignon further assimilated into Dutch society when he married Maria Willaerts in 1675, but the union proved short, as he died at age 39 in March 1679.