Artwork

Flowers and Fruit in a Chinese Bowl

Flowers and Fruit in a Chinese Bowl, by Juan de Zurbarán, oil, 1645
Flowers and Fruit in a Chinese Bowl, by Juan de Zurbarán, oil, 1645

Flowers and Fruit in a Chinese Bowl is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Juan de Zurbarán. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

About this work

Overview

Flowers and Fruit in a Chinese Bowl is an oil on canvas painting attributed to Juan de Zurbarán, a Spanish artist known for his still lifes. The work features a intricately decorated Chinese bowl filled with flowers and fruit, rendered with precise detail and dramatic lighting.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a luxurious still life, with an expensive imported Chinese porcelain bowl as its centerpiece. The bowl's intricate designs and the arrangement of flowers and fruit within it reflect the refined tastes of the wealthy patrons who purchased Juan de Zurbarán's work.

Technique & Style

The artist's use of precise, sensuous brushwork and dramatic lighting creates a sense of depth and visual interest. The painting's style is characteristic of Juan de Zurbarán's known works, which are marked by their attention to detail and exuberant compositions.

History & Provenance

Initially attributed to Francisco de Zurbarán, the painting is now considered to be the work of his son, Juan de Zurbarán. The attribution is based on the painting's style, which is consistent with Juan's few signed works.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Juan de Zurbarán

Artist

Juan de Zurbarán

Juan de Zurbarán (1620–1649) was a Spanish Baroque painter. Juan de Zurbarán was born in Llerena, Badajoz, the son of Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664), and joined in the workshop that his father owned in Seville, with…