Vase with Flowers

This is one of Van Huysum’s finest works executed on a dark background. He used strong contrasts of light and dark to suggest space and depth; the light shines on and around the flowers to give the bouquet a three-dimensional quality. Around 1720, Van Huysum turned from painting on a dark to a light background, believing the flowers and fruit would be seen to better effect. He then placed his vases in architectural gardens which hinted at a grand, classical landscape beyond. Read more...

Dulwich Picture Gallery
Adopted by Raymond and Ruth Cousins, 2003