The Art of Antwerp

(1601 Antwerp - 1678 ibid). Flowers in a blue and white Chinese porcelain vase placed on a table. The vase holds a bouquet of tulips, roses, narcissi, and imperial crown (Fritillaria imperialis), with fallen petals already lying on a plate. Although the dimensions of this cabinet painting are limited, the artist managed to depict multicolored spring and summer flowers in rich detail and naturalness, with each individual flower revealing an impressive radiance. Despite the bright and vivid colors, this still life is also an allegory of universal vanity—because the flowers depicted here will wither. It showcases the artist's skill in combining flowers from different months and seasons in a single painting, capturing the transient beauty of divine creation. This flower painting demonstrates that, like almost no other artist of his time, he achieved the high quality level of Jan Brueghel the Elder. Oil on oak panel. 19.5 cm × 11.8 cm. Framed. According to oral information received from the late expert Klaus Ertz in early August 2023, who saw the painting in the original, this is not a previously attributed (since 2014) still life from the circle of Andries Daniëls, but an authentic work by Jan Brueghel the Younger; General literature: Klaus Ertz: "Jan Brueghel the Younger (1601-1678). The Paintings with a Critical Catalogue", Freiburg 1984.