Artwork
Flowers by a Stone Vase
Flowers by a Stone Vase is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pieter Faes. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Pieter Faes renders the bouquet with delicate brushstrokes that model each blossom and the stone vase, creating a quiet, balanced still-life composition.
The work is executed in oil on a wooden panel, a support typical of late-18th-century easel painting. Pieter Faes renders the bouquet with delicate brushstrokes that model each blossom and the stone vase, creating a quiet, balanced still-life composition. Muted earth tones and subtle chiaroscuro emphasize the texture of the petals and the solidity of the vase, while the precise rendering of the flowers suggests careful observation of nature. The painting's modest dimensions (approximately 50.8 × 37.8 cm) contribute to its intimate, tableau-like presence.
History & Provenance
Flowers by a Stone Vase was painted in 1794 by Pieter Faes. Executed in oil on panel, the painting portrays a vase surrounded by flowers in a still-life arrangement. According to the cited sources, it is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
The dating is established as 1794, and the material and dimensions (50.8 × 37.8 cm) are recorded, confirming the work's physical characteristics and its placement within the museum's holdings.
Overview
Pieter Faes, a Flemish painter known for his still lifes, created Flowers by a Stone Vase in 1794. This oil painting exemplifies the decorative rococo tradition, showcasing a lavish floral arrangement. It is a significant example of the artist's work within the genre of flower and fruit still lifes. The artwork is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents an opulent display of various blooms, including tulips, roses, and daisies, rendered in shades of pink, yellow, white, and orange. These flowers overflow from an ornate white stone vase, which features intricate carvings and a single handle. The vase and its contents rest upon a brown table, with a small bird's nest containing eggs positioned nearby, all set against a deep, dark background.
Context
Pieter Faes was a Flemish painter who specialized in the still life genre, particularly focusing on arrangements of flowers and fruit. His decorative style, as seen in this work, shares characteristics with contemporaries such as Jan van Huysum. This painting reflects the prevailing artistic trends of the late 18th century, embodying the refined and ornamental qualities associated with the rococo tradition in still life painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Faes or Peeter Faes (14 July 1750 – 22 December 1814) was a Flemish painter of still lifes of flowers and fruit. He worked in a decorative style close to that of Jan van Huysum.
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