Who painted The Silver Vase?

The Silver Vase was painted by Antoine Vollon in 1866.

Where can I see The Silver Vase?

The Silver Vase is held by National Galleries Scotland.

What movement is The Silver Vase?

The Silver Vase is associated with Realism.

Artwork

The Silver Vase

Antoine Vollon , 1866

The Silver Vase is an oil painting by the Realist artist Antoine Vollon. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.

About this work

Overview

Antoine Vollon’s 1866 oil painting, titled *The Silver Vase*, presents a solitary, highly polished silver vessel set against a dim, indistinct backdrop. The composition isolates the vase, allowing its reflective surface and intricate contours to dominate the visual field, while surrounding items remain vague, contributing to an overall sense of quiet contemplation.

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as a still‑life study that elevates an ordinary household object to the status of visual focal point. By emphasizing the vase’s gleam and form, Vollon invites viewers to consider the interplay of light, materiality, and the fleeting beauty of everyday objects, suggesting a meditative appreciation of the mundane.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting showcases Vollon’s realist approach, marked by meticulous brushwork that captures the metallic sheen and subtle tonal shifts of the silver. The dark, loosely rendered background recedes, creating a chiaroscuro effect that heightens the three‑dimensionality of the vase and underscores the painter’s skill in rendering texture.

History & Provenance

Created during Vollon’s mature period, the piece reflects the artist’s reputation as a “painter’s painter” among his contemporaries. *The Silver Vase* entered the collection of the Scottish National Gallery, where it remains on display, representing a key example of mid‑19th‑century French realism within the museum’s holdings.