The bouquet comprises a variety of flowers, including white and pink carnations, orange marvel of Perus, and pink cabbage roses. The flowers are artfully arranged in a single composition, showcasing a diverse range of shapes and shades. To highlight the vibrancy of the colours, the bouquet is presented against a black background. The painting pays tribute to the enduring interest in horticulture and botany of the seventeenth century. Despite the still life genre not being regarded as the most significant one in the context of artistic classification, Maria van Oosterwijck has achieved notable success with her contributions.
Her meticulous attention to detail, her ability to capture intricate nuances, and her versatility in handling surfaces made her flower paintings highly sought-after collector’s items. She was one of the best-paid painters of her time, even outperforming today’s world-renowned Rembrandt. Unsurprisingly, she inscribed her name on the stone slab of our painting, leaving a legacy for future generations of female painters (50 Favorites in the SMK Collection).
