Artwork

A Vase with Flowers

A Vase with Flowers, by Jacob Vosmaer, oil, 1613
A Vase with Flowers, by Jacob Vosmaer, oil, 1613

A Vase with Flowers is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Vosmaer. It dates from 1613 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work, executed in oil on panel, measures 85 × 63 cm and is catalogued as a still-life by the artist.

Jacob Vosmaer's 1613 painting "A Vase with Flowers" is a Dutch still-life that presents a single earthenware vase overflowing with assorted blossoms against a dark background. The composition exemplifies the genre's focus on everyday objects, using precise rendering of texture and light to highlight the fleeting beauty of the flowers, a motif often linked to themes of transience and abundance in early-modern symbolism. The work, executed in oil on panel, measures 85 × 63 cm and is catalogued as a still-life by the artist.

It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the bequest of William T. Blodgett, underscoring its significance within the museum's Dutch painting holdings.

Technique & Style

A Vase with Flowers is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel in 1613 by Jacob Vosmaer. Its support is panel and the medium is oil paint, placing it within the tradition of Dutch early-17th-century still-life practice. The composition portrays a vase filled with assorted flowers against a dark background, and the panel measures 85 cm in height by 63 cm in width.

History & Provenance

Created in 1613, A Vase with Flowers is an oil-on-panel painting by Jacob Vosmaer. The work was previously owned by William T. Blodgett before entering the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through his bequest. While the specific commission details are not recorded in the available documentation, the piece dates to the early seventeenth century, consistent with Vosmaer's known activity in still-life painting.

The artwork measures 85 cm in height and 63 cm in width. It represents a significant example of Dutch Golden Age still-life art from the early 1600s.

Overview

Jacob Vosmaer's painting, A Vase with Flowers, dates to 1613 and exemplifies early 17th-century still-life traditions. Executed in oil paint, this work is currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It presents a detailed arrangement of flora, characteristic of the period's interest in botanical studies and the meticulous depiction of natural forms. The composition highlights the artist's skill in rendering textures and light.

Vase of Flowers
Vase of Flowers, Jan Brueghel, the elder

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacob Vosmaer

Jacob Vosmaer (1584–1641) was an artist, born in Delft.

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted A Vase with Flowers?

A Vase with Flowers was painted by Jacob Vosmaer in 1613-01-01.

Where can I see A Vase with Flowers?

A Vase with Flowers is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is A Vase with Flowers?

A Vase with Flowers is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of A Vase with Flowers?

Museum-quality prints of A Vase with Flowers are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.