Flower still life

Some flowers have been set out with apparent nonchalance on the corner of a marble tabletop. The eye-catcher is a large rose with fragile petals. Two butterflies are alighting on the flower. This small painting forms a pair with a fruit still-life. Together, they are unique in the oeuvre of Jan van Huysum, who painted mainly large, lavish bouquets. Van Huysum’s still-lifes were very popular – he was one of the highest paid painters of his day.