Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 'Flowers in a Glass Bottle on a Marble Plinth', about 1670
About the work
Overview
The most celebrated still life painter of his day, de Heem made a number of innovations in the art of flower painting. Here, stems and tendrils burst out from his bouquet, adding movement and dynamism to the composition. The flowers face different directions and extend out from the vase, in marked contrast to earlier, more static compositions in which all the flowers tended to face the viewer.
In this composition, de Heem emphasises roundness, from the marble pedestal and the glass vase reflecting the studio window to the ample blooms and curving stems of hops and wheat. Even the forms of the snail, bumblebee and cross spider on the edge of the plinth contribute to this effect.
The bright colours of the flowers are expertly distributed. The red of the tulip and poppy at top right, for example, finds its counterpart in the red currants at lower left, while the rich ochre of the sunflower at top is balanced by the honeysuckle and ear of wheat at lower right.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Flowers in a Glass Bottle on a Marble Plinth
- Artist
- Jan Davidsz. de Heem
- Artist dates
- 1606 - 1683/4
- Date made
- about 1670
- Medium and support
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 50 × 40.9 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed
- Acquisition credit
- On loan from the collection of Janice and Brian Capstick
- Inventory number
- L1207
- Location
- Room 28
- Image copyright
- On loan from the collection of Janice and Brian Capstick, © Photo courtesy of the owner
- Collection
- Main Collection
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
Images
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