Provenance

Mr. and Mrs. William Draper Blair

Blair, William Draper and Mary Eula

he: 1902 - 1994; she: 1906 - 1983

Explore selected works

A profusion of flowers mostly in ruby red, bright white, and flamingo pink are gathered in a bronze-colored urn, set on a stone ledge against a dark background in this vertical still life painting. A band of flowers reaching from the lower left to the upper right draw the eye, and are made up of a pink rose at the bottom under a white rose, a white-and-red streaked tulip, and a crimson-red poppy near the upper right. Other flowers include a sprig of pale, nearly white lilac to the left, sapphire-blue morning glories, golden stalks of wheat, and green leaves interspersed throughout. The urn has a fluted, flaring foot. Upon closer inspection we find that the foot must belong to a much larger vessel, for a terracotta-colored person reclining next to a stylized fish emerges from behind the flowers at the upper left. An ivory-white butterfly with an orange spot on each wing alights on the tulip, whose petals are spread wide. A snail with a marmalade-orange shell with a thin, shiny, black spiral crawls along the ledge to our right, and on the stone ledge to our left, an earwig eats a honey-yellow caterpillar. The flowers and insects are brightly lit from our left, and the chocolate-brown background is swallowed in shadow. A partially legible inscription in the lower right reads, “Kouwe be h.”
Philip van Kouwenbergh, Flowers in a Vase, c. 1700, oil on canvas, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William Draper Blair, 1976.26.2

Flowers in a Vase

Philip van Kouwenbergh · c. 1700 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1976.26.2

This painting shows a large white vase filled with a dense assortment of vibrant flowers. The bouquet includes flowers in shades of deep red, bright pink, white, and dark blue, with a few yellow flowers in the back. The leaves and stems of the flowers are such a dark green that they appear almost black. The vase is carved with some images of nude people, with some geometric patterns towards the base. It rests on a wooden table, with some flowers spilling over its edge onto the table. The background is dark brown, and the flowers cast dark shadows on the vase and table.
French 17th Century, Flowers in a Classical Vase, late 17th century, oil on canvas, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William Draper Blair, 1976.26.1

Flowers in a Classical Vase

French 17th Century · late 17th century · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1976.26.1