Masterpiece Story: Flower Still Life by Jan van Huysum

Atop the mysterious antique rose are four clinging water droplets, while further down three droplets cling to one of the rose’s leaves. The largest and most apparent droplet is on the highest petal of the flower. The water reflects the rose’s pink shade with a white fleck of light.

Compositionally, the water droplets add body to the rose and create moments of pause. The viewer does not merely glance over the rose, but stops and observes the flower’s little intricacies.

Variegated Carnation

Below the antique rose, in the lower right corner of the composition, is a variegated carnation. Its petals are patterned with red and white stripes. Variegated flowers, less popular today, were widely favored in the 17th and early 18th centuries, especially in the area of the modern Netherlands. Tulips and the Tulip Mania of 1634-1637 epitomized the striped flower craze.

However, while Jan van Huysum may be commenting on the economic instability of flowers, it is more likely that he is using this unusual flower to act as a visual foil to the antique rose. The carnation has a bold, geometric pattern, while the rose has muted, irregular shading. Nevertheless, the carnation also acts as an echo to the rose, with both flowers displaying bold crimson petals. Therefore, Van Huysum plays visually with the rose and the carnation, highlighting their similarities and differences..

Morning Glory

To the left of the rose are two blue morning glories. Their delicately thin trumpet blooms contrast against the weighty, cabbage-like roses. Van Huysum displays the morning glories from two different angles. One is frontal and fully bloomed. The second one is in profile and in early bloom. He further adds a third morning glory below the rose in a bud-like, unbloomed view.

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