Artwork
A vase of flowers with a monkey
A vase of flowers with a monkey is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ambrosius Bosschaert II. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
The composition combines a luxuriant floral bouquet with a small primate and assorted fruit, set against a darkened backdrop that heightens the vivid colours.
Ambrosius Bosschaert II, a Dutch painter active in the early 17th century, completed the canvas A vase of flowers with a monkey in 1637. The composition combines a luxuriant floral bouquet with a small primate and assorted fruit, set against a darkened backdrop that heightens the vivid colours. The work exemplifies the still‑life genre that flourished in the Dutch Golden Age and is presently held by the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the painting stands a broad, brown‑toned vase overflowing with a variety of blossoms—sunflowers, lilies, roses and other species rendered in yellow, white, pink and red. In front of the vase a diminutive monkey perches on a table, gazing toward the flowers, while apples and grapes share the surface. The juxtaposition of cultivated flora, exotic animal and fruit reflects contemporary interests in natural abundance and the fleeting nature of luxury.
Technique & Style
Bosschaert employs a meticulous, almost scientific approach to rendering each petal and leaf, characteristic of his family’s flower‑painting tradition. Fine brushwork creates crisp outlines and delicate shading, while the dark background serves as a chiaroscuro field that isolates the bright subjects. The canvas supports a luminous palette, and the careful placement of light enhances the three‑dimensional illusion of the vase and its contents.
History & Provenance
The painting was executed in 1637, during the height of the Dutch still‑life market, and later entered the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Its acquisition history reflects the 19th‑century British interest in Dutch Golden Age works, and the piece has remained a representative example of Bosschaert II’s oeuvre within the museum’s holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ambrosius Bosschaert II (1609–1645) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who specialized in flower paintings in the manner of his father Ambrosius Bosschaert.
