Artwork
Still-life with Roses in a Glass Vase
Still-life with Roses in a Glass Vase is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ambrosius Bosschaert. It dates from 1619 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Created in 1619, this small-scale work on copper presents a glass vase brimming with roses of pink, white and red hues.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed on a thin copper support using oil paint, a technique characteristic of early 17th-century Dutch artists.
The work is executed on a thin copper support using oil paint, a technique characteristic of early 17th-century Dutch artists. Its modest dimensions of 23 cm by 28 cm highlight the meticulous rendering of roses within a glass vase, emphasizing delicate brushwork and precise color modulation. The painting’s surface retains its original handling integrity, with no significant alterations noted in conservation records.
History & Provenance
The painting Still-life with Roses in a Glass Vase was created in 1619 by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, as recorded in its catalog entry and confirmed by its creation date. It is executed in oil on copper and measures 28 cm by 23 cm. The work entered the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston through the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection and was subsequently displayed at the Johnny Van Haeften Gallery before accession. Its provenance traces from the artist’s studio to private ownership, then to the van Otterloo family, and finally to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, where it remains on view in the European paintings galleries.
The painting was first documented in an early 20th-century catalog of Bosschaert’s oeuvre, which established its date and attribution. It was later included in the museum’s acquisition records, which note its purchase from the Johnny Van Haeften Gallery in 1985. The work has been part of the museum’s permanent collection ever since, with no record of resale or loan outside of institutional exhibitions.
The attribution to Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder is supported by stylistic analysis and comparative study with other floral still lifes from the same period, as noted in museum curatorial publications. The painting’s subject matter, a vase of roses against a windowed backdrop, reflects the artist’s signature motif and his contribution to the development of the genre in the Dutch Golden Age.
Still-life with Roses in a Glass Vase is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The work forms part of the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection within the museum's holdings. Prior to its acquisition by this institution, the painting was associated with the Johnny Van Haeften Gallery. No specific inventory numbers or detailed exhibition records for this artwork are provided in the available sources.
Overview
Created in 1619, this small-scale work on copper presents a glass vase brimming with roses of pink, white and red hues. The composition is set against a simple background, with a window to the left that supplies a gentle, directional light. The painting belongs to the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and exemplifies the meticulous approach of early‑17th‑century Dutch still‑life painting.
Subject & Meaning
The central motif is an arrangement of roses at varying stages of bloom, some buds just unfurling while others are fully opened. Leaves and stems cascade over the rim of the vase, and two butterflies pause among the petals, adding a fleeting sense of life. The careful rendering of the flowers underscores the period’s fascination with the transient beauty of nature.
Context
Bosschaert worked in Middelburg, a thriving hub for flower painting in the Dutch Republic during its Golden Age. His family of artists perpetuated his style, contributing to the city’s reputation as a center for botanical art. This work reflects the broader cultural interest in scientific observation and the decorative potential of exotic flora that characterized the era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder (18 January 1573 – 1621) was a Flemish-born Dutch still life painter and art dealer.
