Vase of Flowers, 1654
Jan Davidzoon de Heem
Dutch, 1606-1683/84
Oil on canvas
26-1/2 x 21-3/4 in. (67.3 x 55.2 cm)
The Norton Simon Foundation
F.1973.06.P
© 2010 The Norton Simon Foundation
On view
The Utrecht-born de Heem specialized in virtuosic flower and banquet pieces that were enthusiastically collected by aristocrats and wealthy merchants alike. Perhaps the most striking aspect of this Baroque, pyramidal composition is the abundant bouquet, the leaves and flowers cascading down like a waterfall. Everything is lush, including de Heem's palette.
In addition to the aesthetic delights offered in the painting, viewers could exercise their intellect by deciphering the hidden meanings of various elements. This type of still life was known as a vanitas, in which moral messages - frequently on the fleeting nature of life or the futility of riches - were encoded via symbols. The decaying leaves at left, for instance, allude to the transiency of life. The butterfly often signifies life, death and resurrection.
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