Artwork
The Overturned Bouquet
The Overturned Bouquet is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Abraham Mignon. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on panel and depicts a bouquet of flowers in a vase that has been overturned. The work measures 89.5 cm in height and 71.5 cm in width, a substantial scale for a floral still life of the period. The handling emphasizes naturalistic detail and a balanced composition characteristic of Abraham Mignon's flower pieces.
History & Provenance
The Overturned Bouquet was created by Abraham Mignon in 1670. The painting was subsequently held by Pieter de la Court van der Voort and Catharina Backer before entering the collection of Adriaan Leonard van Heteren Gevers. It later became part of the Kabinet van Heteren Gevers, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, where the work is currently located.
Overview
Abraham Mignon, a mid‑17th‑century Dutch still‑life specialist from Utrecht, painted The Overturned Bouquet in 1670. The work belongs to the Dutch Golden Age and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s holdings. It presents a disrupted floral arrangement rendered in the artist’s characteristic meticulous style.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a vase tipped over, its contents spilling onto a dark surface. Bright tulips, roses and irises tumble amid tangled foliage, while a yawning cat watches from below. The scene captures a moment of domestic disorder, inviting contemplation of transience and the contrast between vitality and decay.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham Mignon or Minjon (21 June 1640 – 27 March 1679) was a Dutch still life painter.
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