Gabriel Germain JONCHERIE (Vitry-sur-Seine 1785 - 1856) Cabinet of curiosities Canvas Signed and dated lower right "Joncherie 1824" 60 x 73,5 cm Gabriel-Germain Joncherie was active in Paris between 1823 and 1844. He is a painter of still life, interior views and trompe l'oeil. He exhibited at the Salon in 1831 and 1844. Apart from this information his life is not well known. However, a good number of paintings have come down to us. Our picture is painted at the beginning of his career. It shows two polychrome Chinese statuettes under a globe as well as a stuffed cat and squirrel framing playing cards. The artist plays with reality. Another work that deals with the same themes is now preserved in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen: the Trompe-l'oeil au cabinet de curiosités painted in 1823, which was also done at the beginning of the painter's activity.