Artwork
Roses and a Tulip in a Glass Vase
Roses and a Tulip in a Glass Vase is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Jan Philip van Thielen. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This oil on panel painting, created around 1655 by Jan Philips van Thielen, depicts a detailed floral arrangement.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:bottom center: Van. Thielen.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition centers on a glass vase containing roses and a single tulip, rendered with delicate glazes that enhance the illusion of transparency and light.
The work is executed in oil on a wooden panel support, measuring 32 cm in height and 23.4 cm in width. Its handling reflects the refined precision typical of Flemish still-life painting of the mid-seventeenth century, characterized by carefully observed botanical detail and luminous modeling of petals and leaves. The composition centers on a glass vase containing roses and a single tulip, rendered with delicate glazes that enhance the illusion of transparency and light.
Stylistically, the painting exemplifies the vanitas tradition through its restrained palette and meticulous naturalism, emphasizing the transient beauty of its subjects.
The panel support shows stable condition with no structural damage reported in recent records, and the paint layer appears well-preserved under conservation examination.
History & Provenance
Jan Philips van Thielen executed this oil painting on panel in 1650. The work's documented ownership history begins with the London firm John Mitchell & Son. In November 1961, the piece was acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia.
The Mellons retained the painting for three decades before presenting it as a gift to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1992.
Roses and a Tulip in a Glass Vase is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The painting was purchased from John Mitchell & Son, London in November 1961 by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia, and entered the museum’s collection as their gift in 1992. The sources do not specify an inventory or accession number for the work, nor do they record any exhibition history.
Overview
This oil on panel painting, created around 1655 by Jan Philips van Thielen, depicts a detailed floral arrangement. Titled Roses and a Tulip in a Glass Vase, it showcases a vibrant collection of blossoms in a transparent vessel. The work exemplifies the artist's focus on still life, a popular genre during the mid-17th century, emphasizing natural beauty and meticulous observation.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features a prominent display of pink, white, and purple flowers, including roses and a tulip, set within a clear glass vase on a wooden surface. Green foliage provides a naturalistic backdrop to the blooms. The inclusion of a moth and a beetle introduces elements of the natural world beyond the cultivated garden, often hinting at themes of transience or the cycle of life.
Context
This still life exemplifies characteristics of the Baroque movement, particularly its emphasis on dramatic light, rich detail, and a sense of theatricality in composition. While often conveying allegorical meanings, such floral paintings also celebrated the beauty of the natural world and the scientific interest in botany prevalent in 17th-century Europe. Van Thielen's work contributes to the flourishing tradition of flower painting in the Low Countries.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Philip van Thielen or Jan Philips van Thielen (1618 in Mechelen – 1667 in Booischot) was a Flemish painter who specialized in flower pieces and garland paintings.
