Artwork
Still Life with Flowers
Still Life with Flowers is an oil painting by Harmanus Uppink. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is classified as a floral painting and was created in 1789 using oil on canvas, measuring 73 cm in height and 60 cm in width.
The painting presents a bouquet of flowers arranged on a tabletop, a common subject in Dutch still-life tradition that conveys both aesthetic pleasure and moral contemplation. The floral arrangement symbolizes the transient nature of life and the fleeting beauty of earthly possessions, reflecting the broader themes of impermanence found in 18th-century Dutch art. The work is classified as a floral painting and was created in 1789 using oil on canvas, measuring 73 cm in height and 60 cm in width. It is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection and was originally owned by Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt.
Symbolic elements within the composition, such as the varied blooms and their delicate rendering, invite viewers to consider the fleeting nature of existence and the vanitas theme prevalent in Dutch still-life works of the period.
Technique & Style
Harmanus Uppink executed this floral still life in 1789 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 73 cm in height and 60 cm in width, presenting a composed bouquet as its central subject. As a piece classified within the still life genre, the painting utilizes traditional materials to render its botanical depiction.
History & Provenance
The painting Still Life with Flowers by Harmanus Uppink is dated 1789, as indicated by the artist’s inscription on the work.
It entered the Rijksmuseum collection through Joannes Barnardus Antonius Maria Westerwoudt, whose ownership is recorded in the museum’s holdings. The painting has remained in the Rijksmuseum’s collection since acquisition.
Overview
Harmanus Uppink’s 1795 oil painting titled Still Life with Flowers presents a generous bouquet arranged in a large vase. The composition is dominated by white and pink roses, interspersed with red carnations and accented by green foliage. Set against a deep, muted background, the vivid hues of the blossoms are emphasized, creating a striking visual contrast.
Context
During the late 1700s, Dutch still‑life painters often emphasized realism and texture, responding to a market that valued detailed depictions of domestic objects. Uppink’s work aligns with this trend, integrating meticulous observation with a modest, yet effective, compositional arrangement that underscores the period’s aesthetic preferences.
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