Still Life with a Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase
Author: Unknown
Origin: Unknown
Dating: 18th century
Material: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions (cm): 58,8 x 74
Inv. no.: PNA703 / PNA66697 / PD0727dep
A vase made of glass with assorted flowers placed over a wooden table.
Still-life paintings portray inanimate objects such as flowers, fruit, vegetables or animals. Still life paintings arose in the Netherlands during the second half of the 17th century to satisfy the tastes of a prominent middle class who wanted to be portrayed in historical or religious paintings. Although it was considered (as in Landscape and Animal paintings) to be a less important subject for art, the still-life paintings quickly became really known and recognized all over Europe. The apogee of this Art form was in the second half of the 17th century and well into the 18th century. However, the decadence of this artistic movement happened in the 19th century.
Still-life paintings are, unquestionably, an imitation of reality; a particular moment is captured on canvas where it may be contemplated. However, this Artistic Movement gradually fell out of favour in the 19th century.
