Still Life with Tulips, Chrysanthemums, Narcissi, Roses, Irises and other Flowers in a Glass Vase

Jan Brueghel was one of the most celebrated flower painters of his age. From 1605 onwards, his floral still lifes brought new complexity and depth to the emerging genre: his first painting of this type included 72 varieties of spring and summer flowers. This composition, while not quite so extravagant, is typically bright and dense. Here, the strict symmetry of the artist’s earlier works makes way for a more realistic arrangement. With his meticulous and very precise style Brueghel then creates a richly variegated bouquet with subtle gradations of colour. The glass vase adds another tour de force element, showcasing Brueghel’s ability to paint transparent as well as opaque surfaces.