Flowers in a Glass

Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder painted this Flowers in a Glass in 1606, an early masterpiece of Dutch flower painting that established conventions for the genre. Bosschaert, born in Antwerp and active in Middelburg, is considered the founder of the Dutch tradition of flower still life. His precisely rendered bouquets combine blooms from different seasons in arrangements that could never exist in nature, creating idealized compilations that celebrate both God's creation and human cultivation.

The oil on copper support provides the smooth, luminous surface essential for Bosschaert's meticulous botanical rendering. Each bloom is painted with scientific precision against a dark background, with the copper ground lending warmth and depth to the translucent petals and leaves.