Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen the Younger or II (1664 – 1730) was a Flemish artist, master of floral still life in the late Baroque genre.

The artist was born in Antwerp and studied painting with his father. At baptism, the artist received the name Gaspar. The second name – Peter was added during confirmation. Verbruggen often signed with the Hispanicized version of his name “Pedro”. Verbruggen the Younger’s brushes belong to flower garlands and paintings, vases with bouquets, complex compositions enlivened by the presence of allegorical or mythological female figures.

The artist’s abilities manifested themselves unusually early. At the age of twelve, Verbruggen was already a master of the Antwerp guild, and at sixteen he had his own student. In 1691-1692, Verbruggen, despite his youth, was elected dean of the corporation (a position he subsequently held several times). According to the memoirs of his contemporaries, the artist was distinguished by great carelessness. His wasteful lifestyle led him to bankruptcy, and, fleeing from the pursuing creditors, Verbruggen left for Holland.

In 1706-1723, he lived in The Hague. Despite the orders that the artist received in Holland, upon returning to Antwerp, he was so poor that his colleagues were forced to come to his aid. In September 1723, Verbruggen received the position of “Knabe”, a boy messenger at the corporation (in reality, the duties of the messenger were performed by a servant specially hired for this purpose). Verbruggen’s activity as a painter was over. The artist lived to be sixty years old, and was buried on March 14, 1730 in the Antwerp Cathedral.

Over the years of his work, Verbruggen created a large number of works. His paintings were often used in interior design. There are known cases when Verbruggen’s canvases served as dessus-de-portes, played the role of so-called “over-fireplace paintings”, and filled the piers of aristocratic living rooms. Such decorative canvases, reaching quite significant sizes, required extraordinary compositional skill.

There is information that in addition to works made to order, Verbruggen painted for sale and traded them at the Antwerp market. During the artist’s lifetime, his works were in great demand, and at present, Verbruggen’s paintings are represented in many collections in Western Europe. Verbruggen’s works are rarely found in Russian collections. The works of Gaspar Pieter Verbruggen II consist mostly of lively flower compositions, vases or sculptural settings in the antique style. Their luxury in the late Baroque style and pleasant lighting give them a particularly attractive appearance.