Artwork
Floral Still Life
Floral Still Life is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan van Kessel the Elder. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Created in 1633, this oil painting presents a densely arranged floral composition typical of Flemish Baroque still lifes.
About this work
Technique & Style
The artwork is an oil painting executed on a copper support, reflecting the Baroque period's emphasis on rich textures and meticulous detail.
The artwork is an oil painting executed on a copper support, reflecting the Baroque period's emphasis on rich textures and meticulous detail. The composition features a vase and cauldron rendered with precise brushwork, characteristic of Dutch still life traditions. The use of oil paint and copper leaf demonstrates the artist's technical experimentation with unconventional supports, contributing to the work's distinctive luminous quality and surface handling.
History & Provenance
The painting’s creation spans two decades: a 1633 date appears in the artist’s records, while a second source situates the work within the artist’s oeuvre as dating to around 1650.
By the mid-seventeenth century the work entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, Madrid, where it remains held. The copper support and small scale align with van Kessel’s practice of painting cabinet-format still lifes on copper during this period.
The painting resides in the Museo del Prado collection and is accessioned under the museum's inventory system. It has been part of the museum's exhibition schedule, featured in displays of Baroque Spanish art and dedicated showcases of Dutch and Flemish masters.
The work measures 32 cm in height and 42 cm in width.
Overview
Created in 1633, this oil painting presents a densely arranged floral composition typical of Flemish Baroque still lifes. The work gathers an assortment of blossoms, arranged in ornate vessels and scattered across a surface, alongside a small cauldron. It is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a variety of flowers, predominantly reds, whites and pinks, displayed in decorative vases and pots, some of which lie on the ground. Small birds and a rabbit are incorporated, adding a touch of naturalism and suggesting themes of abundance and the fleeting nature of beauty.
Context
Van Kessel’s approach draws on the legacy of his grandfather, Jan Brueghel the Elder, and the work of earlier Flemish specialists such as Daniel Seghers and Joris Hoefnagel. Their influence is evident in the careful arrangement of botanical elements and the integration of symbolic fauna within a richly detailed setting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Kessel the Elder or Jan van Kessel (I) (baptized 5 April 1626, Antwerp – 17 April 1679, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the mid-17th century.
Flowers and Fruit
Still Life with Artichokes and a Parrot
Still life with flowers and fruit
Still Life with Flowers, Grapes, and Small Game Birds
Still Life with Flowers and Fruit
Still life with flowers and a watch
Stone Base with Flowers and Fruit
Jardín con flores y frutas
Still Life of flowers in a terracotta vase on a stone plinth