Who painted Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers?

Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers was painted by Godfried Schalcken in c. 1675/1680.

Where can I see Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers?

Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers?

Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers?

Museum-quality prints of Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers

Godfried Schalcken , 1678

Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Godfried Schalcken. It dates from 1678 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left: G. Schalcken

About this work

History & Provenance

Ownership then moved to Princess Ermina Tonsson before being sold at Christie's East, New York, in 1980.

Painted in 1678 by Godefridus Schalcken, the work entered the Schönborn collection at Pommersfelden (Schloss Weissenstein) by at least 1719, held by Graf Lothar Franz von Schönborn, and remained with the family through successive catalogues of 1746 and 1857.

It left the family via the Schönborn sale in Paris in 1867, was acquired by De l'Espine/Comte de L the following year, and later passed through the Goldschmidt and Gabriel Cognacq sales (1898 and 1952). Ownership then moved to Princess Ermina Tonsson before being sold at Christie's East, New York, in 1980. After changing hands via P. de Boer and a 2004 Sotheby's sale in New York, it was purchased by Colnaghi of London in 2005.

The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., acquired the painting from Colnaghi on 16 March 2005, where it has remained since.

Overview

This oil painting, Woman Weaving a Crown of Flowers, was created by Godefridus Schalcken around 1678. It depicts a genre scene, a common subject in Dutch Golden Age art, focusing on an everyday activity. The work is executed on a panel, showcasing a solitary figure engaged in a delicate task within an outdoor setting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a woman seated beside a stone wall, near a fountain. She is adorned with a large hat and a dress complemented by a scarf, her attention intently fixed on the flowers she is arranging into a crown. The scene unfolds in what appears to be a garden, with trees, a distant landscape, and a classical statue visible in the background, establishing an idyllic outdoor ambiance.

Context

This work exemplifies a genre scene, a popular category in 17th-century Dutch painting that depicted everyday life rather than historical or mythological narratives. Such works often focused on domestic activities or leisure pursuits, offering viewers a glimpse into contemporary social customs. Schalcken's portrayal of a woman engaged in a simple, natural task aligns with this tradition, placing the individual within a relatable, yet idealized, setting.