Dirck de Bray, 'Flowers in a White Stone Vase', 1671

For this bouquet, de Bray has selected only flowers that bloom in the same season, at the beginning of summer. Thus the artist’s goal was to paint a natural bouquet and not an imaginary one.

The stark beauty of this bouquet is a far cry from more typical, densely crowded compositions. De Bray masterfully balanced the height of the columbines and peony with the trailing morning glories. The palette is boldly limited, the red and white petals contrasting dramatically with the dark, impenetrable background. These colour accents are skillfully arranged, as for example the ladybird tiptoeing along the marble which provides an intelligent red counterpoint amidst the blue notes. This painting has a quiet, mystical quality conveyed by details like the bumblebee, quietly hiding behind the pot.