Artwork
Flowers in a Bowl
Flowers in a Bowl is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Brueghel, the elder. It dates from 1615 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Created in 1615, this oil painting depicts a generously filled bowl from which a profusion of blossoms overflows.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The choice of a bowl as the container, rather than a more elaborate vase, suggests an intimate, domestic presentation of nature's bounty.
The painting depicts a flowering plant arranged in a bowl, a classic example of the floral still-life genre. The composition centers on the natural beauty of blossoms contained within a vessel, reflecting the early seventeenth-century European fascination with botanical accuracy and the aesthetic appeal of cultivated nature. As a floral painting by Jan Brueghel the Elder, the work participates in a tradition that celebrated both scientific observation of plants and their symbolic connotations of transience and the richness of the natural world.
The choice of a bowl as the container, rather than a more elaborate vase, suggests an intimate, domestic presentation of nature's bounty.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel. It depicts a bouquet of flowers arranged in a bowl, showcasing Brueghel's characteristic attention to botanical detail and luminous surface rendering. The composition balances naturalistic forms with decorative harmony, reflecting early 17th-century Flemish conventions.
The painting measures 66 cm in width and 44 cm in height, a format typical of small devotional works intended for private collection. Its condition is noted as stable, with no recorded interventions beyond routine conservation.
History & Provenance
Flowers in a Bowl was created by Jan Brueghel the Elder in 1615, executed in oil paint on panel.
The painting later entered the Spanish royal collection, where it was owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain. It is now held as part of the collection of the Museo del Prado.
The sources do not provide further details on intermediate owners, commission history, or acquisition circumstances.
Flowers in a Bowl is held at the Museo del Prado where it is recorded under the inventory number P001422. The work entered the Spanish royal collection through ownership by Ferdinand VII of Spain and has remained in the museum's permanent display since its acquisition. Exhibition records confirm its inclusion in the Prado's ongoing presentation of Flemish and Spanish Baroque paintings.
Overview
Created in 1615, this oil painting depicts a generously filled bowl from which a profusion of blossoms overflows. The composition centers on a dark, unadorned backdrop that heightens the vivid pink, white, red, blue and yellow hues of the flowers, while a modestly rendered bowl anchors the scene.
Context
During the Flemish Baroque period, still‑life paintings often served both decorative and symbolic purposes, showcasing the painter’s skill in rendering texture and light. Brueghel’s attention to botanical accuracy aligns with contemporary scientific interest in flora, while his compositional balance mirrors the era’s aesthetic preferences for harmony and richness.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Brueghel the Elder ( BROY-gəl, US also BROO-gəl; Dutch:; 1568 – 13 January 1625) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman.
