Artwork

Silver birch trunk and branch with rose, lizards, a snake, toadstools, butterflies and a snail

Silver birch trunk and branch with rose, lizards, a snake, toadstools, butterflies and a snail is an oil painting by Otto Marseus van Schrieck. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1658 by Dutch painter Otto Marseus van Schrieck, this oil on canvas presents a close‑up study of a silver birch trunk and branch. The composition gathers a modest assortment of flora and fauna—rose, mushrooms, butterflies, a snail, lizards, and a snake—arranged within a dimly lit forest setting. The work belongs to the Fitzwilliam Museum’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The painting juxtaposes a solitary birch stem, its bark mottled with moss and lichen, against a solitary red rose and a cluster of toadstools. Small creatures—two lizards, a coiled snake, a snail, and fluttering butterflies—populate the scene, suggesting a quiet moment of natural coexistence and inviting contemplation of the delicate balance within woodland ecosystems.

Technique & Style

Van Schrieck renders the bark’s texture with fine, almost microscopic brushwork, emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow on mossy surfaces. The palette remains muted—earthy browns, muted greens, and soft grays—while the rose provides a restrained splash of red. The composition is tightly cropped, focusing attention on the intricate details of each organism.

History & Provenance

The canvas entered the holdings of the Fitzwilliam Museum, where it remains on display. Its attribution to van Schrieck aligns with the artist’s mid‑17th‑century reputation for meticulous natural studies, a genre that appealed to collectors interested in scientific observation and decorative art.

Context

During the Dutch Golden Age, van Schrieck specialized in “forest floor” paintings, a niche that combined artistic skill with the era’s burgeoning interest in natural history. His works often featured exotic or symbolic plants and animals, reflecting contemporary curiosity about the natural world and its hidden intricacies.

Artist & collection

Artist

Otto Marseus van Schrieck

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.