Artwork
Study of a Tulip (Anvaers)
Study of a Tulip (Anvaers) is a drawing by the Baroque artist Pieter Holsteyn II. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Study of a Tulip (Anvaers) is a drawing by Pieter Holsteyn II, depicting a tulip with red and white striped petals.
Subject & Meaning
The tulip's name, 'Anvaers', is the French word for Antwerp. The flower's unique striations, caused by a viral infection, made it highly valuable during the 17th-century Dutch tulip trade.
History & Provenance
The drawing was likely created as part of a tulip book used by growers to market their rare bulbs during the speculative tulip bubble in 17th-century Holland.
Technique & Style
Holsteyn was one of many artists in the Netherlands who specialized in botanical illustration, capturing the tulip's distinctive appearance on a small sheet of paper.
Artist & collection
