Bouquet of Flowers in a Glass Vase
Ambrosius Bosschaert·1621
Historical Context
Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder painted this bouquet of flowers in a glass vase in 1621, one of his later works that refined the format he pioneered for Dutch flower painting. Bosschaert is credited with establishing the independent flower still life as a distinct genre in Dutch art, elevating what had been marginal decoration to a subject worthy of dedicated painting. His meticulous, symmetrical arrangements influenced generations of Dutch flower painters.
Technical Analysis
The oil on copper provides the smooth, luminous surface essential for Bosschaert's jewel-like botanical precision. Each flower is rendered with the careful observation of a natural history illustration, while the glass vase demonstrates his mastery of transparency and refraction effects.
Provenance
Probably painted 1621 for Frederick van Schurman (or Schuermans) [1564-1623], The Hague.[1] (sale, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 7 April 1922, no. 54); private collection, England; (John Mitchell & Sons, London); private collection, England; (Edward Speelman, Ltd., London); purchased 27 June 1996 by NGA. [1] This painting is probably the one that Bosschaert took with him in 1621, when he traveled from Breda to The Hague to deliver a _blompot_ (flower still-life painting) to Frederick van Schurman (or Schuermans), the _bottelier_ of Prince Maurits. For this work Bosschaert received the extraordinary sum of 1,000 guilders. Maria Bosschaert, Ambrosius’ daughter, wrote the following: “Mijn vader Ambrosius Bosschaert is gesturven in Schravenhage in ‘t jaer als den 12 jarigen Trebes uut was, doch was woonachtig binnen Breda maer near den Hage getrocken om een blompot te leveren die hij hadde gemaeckt voor de bottelier van Sijn Hoochheyt daervoor hij dusent gulden hadde bedongen ende is aldaer sieck geworden ten huyse van joncker Schuermans, vader van Anna Maria Schuermans ende aldaer gesturven ende in Schravenhage begraven, tot droefheyt van veel liefhebbers.” See Abraham Bredius, “De bloemschilders Bosschaert,” _Oud-Holland_ 31 (1913):138. Frederick van Schurman had been ennobled by the Holy Roman Emperor, and the phrase Maria Bosschaert used to refer to Van Schurman, a _joncker_ (from the German _Junker_), is an honorary title that corresponds to the old inscription “Jonckheere …” on the verso of the painting.
