Artwork
Bouquet with an hibiscus and a crocus
Bouquet with an hibiscus and a crocus is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Johann Adalbert Angermayer. It dates from 1707 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1707, *Bouquet with a Hibiscus and a Crocus* is a small‑scale still‑life painted on copper.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1707, *Bouquet with a Hibiscus and a Crocus* is a small‑scale still‑life painted on copper. The work presents a clear glass vase set on a modest wooden shelf, its dark backdrop emphasizing the vivid floral grouping. The composition includes a pale hibiscus with a crimson center, delicate white blossoms, and a few red berries, all framed by slightly wilted green foliage.
Subject & Meaning
The painting concentrates on a transient botanical arrangement, inviting contemplation of nature’s fleeting beauty. By juxtaposing the bright hibiscus and crocus against a somber background, the artist highlights the contrast between vitality and decay, a common motif in early eighteenth‑century still‑life that underscores the impermanence of life’s pleasures.
Technique & Style
Executed on a copper panel, the piece benefits from the metal’s smooth surface, allowing for fine, precise brushwork and luminous color modulation. The artist employs a restrained chiaroscuro, using the dark ground to amplify the brilliance of the flowers and the transparency of the glass vase, while the palette balances soft pastels with striking reds.
History & Provenance
Johann Adalbert Angermayer, a Czech painter active in Prague, produced the work after studying with Johann Rudolf Byss. Known for creating cabinet‑sized still lifes, Angermayer often paired such pieces with earlier solitary compositions, forming pendant sets that were likely intended for private collections or decorative interiors.
Context
The painting aligns with the Rococo movement’s penchant for decorative elegance and intimate scale. Its emphasis on ornamental detail, delicate coloration, and the playful arrangement of exotic and native flora reflects the period’s fascination with luxury, natural history, and the refinement of domestic art objects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Adalbert Angermayer (Czech: Jan Vojtěch Angermayer; 9 November 1674 – 18 October 1740) was a Czech painter.
