Flowers in a Terracotta Vase

Jan van Huysum was the last of the distinguished still life painters active in the Northern Netherlands in the 17th and early 18th centuries.  He was an internationally celebrated artist in his lifetime. Although he specialized in flower still lifes, he also painted a few landscapes.

There are more than 30 species in this vase—from florid roses, peonies, mauve and red poppies, to the more humble primroses, apple blossom, and bachelor’s buttons. He adds insects and hothouse fruit to the exotic mix. But one or two of the luscious grapes are past their best, perhaps suggesting the brevity of life, but more likely indicating that a painting lives on long after fruit and flowers have vanished.

This is a rich man’s bouquet made to look winsome and natural, but in reality it’s carefully orchestrated, displaying not only a passion for flowers but an immense knowledge and understanding of them.

P.S. Here you can see another beautiful flower composition painted by a famous woman artist and here one of the most famous vase of flowers ever painted (guess which). Both made in the Netherlands.  :-)