Artwork
Blooming Clover

Blooming Clover is an oil painting by the Art Nouveau artist Jacobus van Looy. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a single sprig of clover in bloom, rendered in delicate, naturalistic detail against a muted background.
The painting depicts a single sprig of clover in bloom, rendered in delicate, naturalistic detail against a muted background. The subject evokes associations with good fortune and prosperity, as clover, particularly the four-leaf variety, has long carried symbolic meanings in European traditions. The choice of a modest, unadorned floral motif aligns with late nineteenth-century Dutch still-life practices that often infused everyday subjects with quiet allegorical significance.
Technique & Style
Jacobus van Looy's Blooming Clover, created in 1897, is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 39 cm in height and 46 cm in width. As an oil-on-canvas piece, the medium allows for the depiction of floral subjects with the characteristic texture and layering associated with this technique. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
The painting Blooming Clover was created by Jacobus van Looy in 1897. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 46 cm in width and 39 cm in height. It currently resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
The available records do not specify the original commission details, the initial owner, or the specific chain of ownership that led to its acquisition by the museum.
Blooming Clover, painted by Jacobus van Looy in 1897, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is located. The work is executed in oil paint on canvas and measures 39 cm in height by 46 cm in width. No specific accession number or detailed exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
The painting is catalogued as part of the Rijksmuseum's holdings, consistent with its identification as a Dutch oil painting from the late nineteenth century. Beyond its current institutional home, the available records do not detail prior owners, acquisition circumstances, or a chronology of public displays.
Legacy
Blooming Clover (1897) by Jacobus van Looy was acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains part of the collection today. The work is cited in scholarly references as an example of late 19th-century Dutch floral painting and is included in catalogues of van Looy's oeuvre that document his contribution to the genre.
Overview
Jacobus van Looy’s 1899 oil work, titled Blooming Clover, presents a modest expanse of clover punctuated by clusters of white and purple blossoms. The composition is anchored by a muted green backdrop that allows the floral hues to emerge with clarity. The painting is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it remains on public display.
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