Giovanni Stanchi was born in Rome in 1608 into a talented family of artists. Both he and his two younger brothers, Nicolò and Angelo, were active as painters. The three brothers worked so closely together that it is nearly impossible to distinguish between their works. Commission confirmations and invoices often mention only Giovanni's name, likely because Giovanni, as the eldest brother, was responsible for drawing up contracts and managing finances. In 1634, the name Giovanni Stanchi first appears in the painters' guild "Accademia di San Luca." Membership in a guild guaranteed an artist more and larger commissions from wealthy Romanesque families and prominent clergymen, as well as their associated institutions. Indeed, Giovanni received commissions from important families such as the Barbarinis, the Colonnas, and the Chigis. The majority of the surviving identified paintings by the Stanchi family are therefore still in Rome. Giovanni Stanchi was known for his talent in painting floral still lifes. It was therefore not without reason that his nickname was Giovanni Stanchi dei Fiori, which means "of the flowers." The work in the White Swan Collection is unsigned. The Stanchis' painting style had many followers, so it is not always certain whether a painting was actually painted by Giovanni, one of his brothers, or a follower.