Ruysch- Flowers in a vase Flashcards
date
1685
medium
oil on canvas
where is it located now
National Gallery (London)
subject
a bouquet of flowers in a glass vase on a stone ledge against a plain background
genre
Vanitas still life
These paintings were designed to make the observer contemplate the brevity of life, the frailty of man and the vanity of all worldly things.
what insects are nestled among the flowers
camouflaged insects nestled amongst them (spiders, caterpillars, ants, grasshoppers)
what variety of flowers do we see
*We see a lush variety of different flowers, from popular common European blooms to rare overseas species: Roses, peonies, honeysuckle, apple blossom and columbine.
how are the flowers presented
*Flowers dominate the picture plane, and fill the whole frame and radiate in all directions. very densely packed
*Flowers are shown in various stages of flowering; some are about to bud, others are beyond their prime.
Some of our leaves have holes in them as they are eaten by the insects.
reminds us of the transcience of life: * We can read this as a vanitas still life a momento mori
Our decaying flowers could refer to the transience of life where the plants have symbolic values making. Roses and anemones were particularly associated with fleeting existence.
scale
life size
where are the largest flowers positioned
*Largest flowers are in the centre, with the most light and the outer flowers are consequently in shadow
composition
*Dramatic, asymmetrical composition with diagonal axes – Baroque style (many of her contemporary flower painters used more symmetrical and formal compositions)
what style is this moving towards
*Curving forms dominate and there is a subtle Serpentine ‘S’ curve. More lively and informal – anticipates Rococo style
colour
*Rich colours of the flowers contrast against dark background, but there is also the use of complementary colours which create harmony, as warm yellows and rose balance cool blues and greens
realism
*Academic brushstrokes, extreme realism/verisimilitude
*Sharp and exact rendering of plants, with minute details
*Meticulous craftsmanship and illusionist skills.
houlding
houding’ - the term used in contemporary art theory to describe coloristic harmony and a plausible sense of three dimensions
when did the netherlands become independent of spain
In 1648, the Netherlands became independent from Spain and entered upon a period of rich cultural, economic and social development.
how did the dutch republic growing in prosperity AND WHAT WAS THE EFFECT
-International trade was the prime engine behind the spectacular prosperity of the Dutch Golden Age, and produced a thriving capitalist economy.
resulted in a newly affluent middle class. Wealthy merchants created a new kind of patronage and art market.
BENEFITS OF NEWLY AFFLUENT MIDDLE CLASS
Wealthy merchants created a new kind of patronage and art market.
This birth of this consumer society occurred alongside the genesis of still-life painting and Ruysch’s career paralleled the growth of the Dutch horticultural industry.
WHAT SUBJECTS OF PAINTINGS BECAME IN DEMAND
*Subjects like big historical, mythological or religious paintings were no longer desired; buyers wanted portraits, still lifes, landscapes and genre paintings (scenes of everyday life) to decorate their homes.
*Although traditionally still-life paintings have the lowest position. They were highly popular with the rising professional, merchant and middle classes.
Exotic plant imports in netherlands
*The Netherlands became the largest importer of new and exotic plants from around the world – they were luxury goods and desirable status symbols for the wealthy.
why did the tulip industry collapse
*Bulb-growing became an important source of wealth. Tulips were frequently painted in the 1630s – rapidly increasing prices for bulbs encouraged mass speculation and eventually led to the famous collapse of the tulip industry in 1637
why did demand for r`eligious painting decline
*Following Luther’s revolt against the Church of Rome (c.1517), demand for religious paintings suffered a serious decline in the newly independent Protestant Dutch Republic.
so, In about 1600 still-life painting emerged more clearly as a separate branch of Dutch art.
protestant views on still life
In many ways, still life was the purest form of Protestant art, at least in Holland. It was a down-to-earth form of painting, which appealed to industrious Dutch home-owners, and contained a complex mix of religious symbolism.
growth of the science of botany
*Ruysch’s career also paralleled the science of botany. Scientific naturalism is the trend in art which was connected with the growth of the natural sciences.
the magnifying glass, became fairly common during the sixteenth century.
