Artwork
Basket of flowers
Basket of flowers is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Juan de Arellano. It dates from 1668 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a basket filled with assorted flowers, emphasizing the abundance and variety of nature.
The painting depicts a basket filled with assorted flowers, emphasizing the abundance and variety of nature. This abundance symbolizes themes of fertility, the fleeting beauty of life, and the transitory nature of earthly pleasures, common concerns in Spanish Baroque still life. The careful rendering of different blossoms reflects a meticulous observation of botanical detail, underscoring the era's fascination with natural world exploration.
Juan de Arellano's work, housed in the Museo del Prado, uses the basket as a container that holds both natural abundance and symbolic meaning, linking material wealth to spiritual reflection.
Technique & Style
The work titled Basket of flowers, painted in 1668 by Juan de Arellano, is executed in oil on canvas. It measures 84 cm in height and 105 cm in width and depicts a basketry arrangement typical of Spanish still-life painting of the period. The painting is part of the collection at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
History & Provenance
Juan de Arellano painted Basket of flowers in 1668 as an oil on canvas still life now housed in the Museo del Prado collection.
The work entered the museum's holdings as part of the institution's permanent collection, reflecting its recognized status as a significant example of Spanish Baroque still-life painting.
The painting's creation aligns with the documented inception period of 1668–1669, corresponding to the artist's mature still-life period.
The provenance and ownership chain are established through its continuous presence in the Museo del Prado collection since acquisition.
Basket of flowers by Juan de Arellano is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is catalogued under inventory number P03138. The painting, executed in oil on canvas, has been part of the museum's holdings as a still life depicting basketry.
No specific exhibition history is recorded for the work in the available sources.
Overview
Basket of Flowers is a 1668 oil painting by Juan de Arellano, a Spanish painter known for floral still lifes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Juan de Arellano (3 August 1614 – 13 October 1676) was a Spanish painter of the Baroque era who specialized in floral still life paintings.
