Artwork
Flowers in a Stone Vase
Flowers in 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
Stylistically, the composition focuses on a floral arrangement situated within a stone vase, adhering to traditional still life conventions of the period.
Executed in 1786, this still life by Pieter Faes utilizes oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 49.5 cm in height and 38.4 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on a floral arrangement situated within a stone vase, adhering to traditional still life conventions of the period.
The selection of a rigid panel as the ground suggests a preference for a smooth surface capable of supporting the fine detail often required in botanical depiction. While specific handling techniques or current condition reports are not detailed in the available records, the material construction confirms the use of standard late eighteenth-century Flemish painting practices involving oil media on panel.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1786, Flowers in a Stone Vase is an oil painting on panel created by the artist Pieter Faes. The work depicts a floral still life arrangement situated within a stone vessel. While specific details regarding its original commission or a comprehensive chain of prior ownership are not provided in the available records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The work's dimensions are recorded as 49.5 cm in height and 38.4 cm in width. The inception date is firmly established as January 1, 1786, marking the beginning of its documented history.
Flowers in a Stone Vase (1786) by Pieter Faes is an oil on panel painting classified as a still‑life. The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is listed in the museum’s collection; the accession number is not provided in the available documentation. According to the catalogue entry, the painting measures 49.5 × 38.4 cm and depicts a vase of flowers.
No exhibition record is cited in the sources consulted, indicating that the painting’s exhibition history has not been documented in the referenced references.
Overview
Pieter Faes, a Flemish artist recognized for his still life compositions, completed Flowers in a Stone Vase in 1794. This oil painting exemplifies the Rococo movement through its depiction of an elaborate floral arrangement. The work is currently housed in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing Faes's contribution to late 18th-century decorative art. His meticulous approach to botanical subjects was characteristic of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a vibrant and diverse floral display, featuring blooms in shades of pink, white, and yellow, some fully open while others remain in bud. These blossoms are carefully arranged within a stone vase, rendered in warm, earthy tones that complement the varied hues of the flowers. The composition emphasizes the transient beauty of nature, captured through a detailed and lifelike portrayal of each botanical element.
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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.
