Arkivism
The overturned bouquet
Public domain

The overturned bouquet

Abraham Mignon · 1660 - 1679 · canvas; oil paint (paint)

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

The ultimate challenge facing a 17th-century still-life painter was to render various materials in a convincing fashion. Everything had to appear real: a contemporary aptly coined this as 'semblance without being'. Abraham Mignon was a master of such seeming realism. In this still life the cat playing with a mousetrap has upset a vase of flowers. Amongst the tulips, irises, poppies, and peonies can be discerned ants, spiders, caterpillars, and snails.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineDe omvergeworpen ruiker. 1660 - 1679. Abraham Mignon. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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