Artwork
Basket of Flowers and View of a Royal Palace of Valencia
Basket of Flowers and View of a Royal Palace of Valencia is an oil painting by Miguel Parra Abril. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Basket of Flowers and View of a Royal Palace of Valencia is a 1844 oil painting by Miguel Parra Abril, a Spanish artist known for portraits and still lifes.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a basket of flowers on a dark table, with a small mirror behind reflecting a grand white palace in Valencia. The juxtaposition of the intimate, natural arrangement and the distant, formal palace scene creates a sense of contrast.
Technique & Style
Parra Abril's realistic rendering of the flowers creates a lifelike effect, with light capturing the softness and freshness of the petals. The palace in the mirror is depicted with sharp clarity, contrasting with the softness of the flowers.
History & Provenance
The painting is held in the Museo del Prado collection. Parra Abril was court painter to King Ferdinand VII and related to portrait painter Vicente López Portaña by marriage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Miguel Parra Abril (1780, Valencia - 13 October 1846, Madrid) was a Spanish artist who served as court painter to King Ferdinand VII.
