Artwork
Vase of Lilacs
Vase of Lilacs is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Fernanda Frances Arribas. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Fernanda Frances Arribas, a Spanish artist active in the late 19th century, painted Vase of Lilacs in 1896. Executed in oil, the work presents a still‑life composition centered on a blue‑and‑white vase filled with pale purple and white lilac blossoms. The piece belongs to the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on a single vase of lilacs, arranged so that the flowers dominate the upper half of the container. A decorative handle shaped like a female figure and a floral motif on the tabletop reinforce the work’s overall emphasis on ornamental natural beauty.
Technique & Style
Arribas employs a realistic, detailed approach typical of late‑Impressionist still lifes, rendering the texture of the porcelain, the softness of the petals, and the subtle play of light on the surface. The oil medium allows for nuanced color transitions and a sense of depth within the composition.
History & Provenance
Created in 1896, the painting entered the Museo del Prado’s holdings, where it remains on display. Arribas, besides her painting career, taught at Madrid’s Escuela de Artes y Oficinos and the Escuela del Hogar, contributing to the city’s artistic education.
Artist & collection
Artist
Fernanda Frances Arribas (1862−1939) was a Spanish painter. She is known for still lifes and flower paintings. She taught at the Escuela de Artes y Oficinos in Madrid, and at the Escuela del Hogar in Madrid.
- Vase of flowers
Vase of Flowers
Vase of Flowers
Autumn memory
Narcissus on the Campagna
Lilac Blossoms
Still Life with Flowers, Fan, and Pearls
A group of flowers in a jar and a bird's nest
Flowers
Branches fleuries et Fleurs
Vase i græsk stil med iris, syren og kaprifolium
A bouquet of flowers at the foot of a tree. At a branch hangs a garland