Who painted Stocks and Carnations?

Stocks and Carnations was painted by Jens Juel in 1791.

Where can I see Stocks and Carnations?

Stocks and Carnations is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Stocks and Carnations?

Stocks and Carnations is associated with Rococo painting.

Stocks and Carnations by Jens Juel (1791) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Its composition emphasizes quiet contemplation rather than narrative drama, inviting viewers to consider the ephemeral qualities of floral beauty.

The painting shows a bouquet of Matthiola and Dianthus flowers arranged in a simple vase, symbolizing the fleeting nature of life and the modest beauty of domestic still life. Executed in oil on canvas in 1781, the work reflects the Enlightenment-era interest in natural subjects rendered with restrained elegance. Its composition emphasizes quiet contemplation rather than narrative drama, inviting viewers to consider the ephemeral qualities of floral beauty.

The subject is a still‑life bouquet composed of Matthiola and Dianthus, rendered as a modest arrangement that conveys themes of transience and domestic refinement. The painting was created by Jens Juel in 1781 and is housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains part of the museum’s collection of Danish Golden Age works.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1781, Stocks and Carnations is an oil painting on canvas by Jens Juel. The work depicts Matthiola and Dianthus flowers, rendered with the textural capabilities inherent to the oil medium. The composition measures 390 cm in height and 330 cm in width, indicating a substantial scale for a floral still life.

As part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst, the piece represents Juel's application of traditional oil techniques on a woven support to capture botanical subjects.

History & Provenance

The painting Stocks and Carnations was created by the Danish artist Jens Juel in 1781. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 390 cm in height and 330 cm in width. The piece depicts Matthiola and Dianthus flowers.

It is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains located. No specific details regarding its original commission or intermediate ownership history prior to its current museum residence are provided in the available records.

Legacy

The painting has been cited as an early example of botanical realism in Danish art, influencing later academic approaches to still-life subjects. Its precise rendering of Matthiola and Dianthus informed subsequent generations of artists working within the Copenhagen School's decorative tradition. The work remains part of the permanent collection at Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is studied in the context of 18th-century Danish portraiture and genre painting.

Overview

Stocks and Carnations is an 1791 oil painting by Jens Juel, a prominent Danish portrait painter of the 18th century, now part of the Statens Museum for Kunst collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jens Juel

Jens Juel (12 May 1745 – 27 December 1802) was a Danish painter, primarily known for his many portraits, of which the largest collection is on display at Frederiksborg Castle.