Artwork
Landschap with insects, cyclamen and thistle
Landschap with insects, cyclamen and thistle is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Otto Marseus van Schrieck. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Otto Marseus van Schrieck’s 1658 oil painting, titled *Landschap with insects, cyclamen and thistle*, presents a compact garden scene rendered in the Dutch Golden Age style. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and is classified as a landscape despite its focus on close‑up botanical and zoological details.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a tangled corner of foliage where a thistle bearing purple blossoms and a cluster of cyclamen dominate the foreground. Butterflies and moths alight on the plants, while a frog and a snail occupy the ground, suggesting an intimate observation of the interdependence of flora and fauna within a secluded natural setting.
Technique & Style
Van Schrieck employs meticulous brushwork to render each leaf, wing and shell with near‑scientific precision, creating a tactile realism. The painting utilizes chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with subtle highlights to generate a moody atmosphere that emphasizes the hidden world of small creatures.
History & Provenance
Created in 1658, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings at an unspecified date and remains on display as an example of van Schrieck’s specialty in forest and garden studies. Its provenance reflects the museum’s broader acquisition of Dutch Golden Age works.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Otto Marseus van Schrieck (ca. 1613, in Nijmegen – buried 22 June 1678, in Amsterdam) was a painter in the Dutch Golden Age. He is best known for his paintings of forest flora and fauna.
