Flowers in a Vase, Paulus Theodorus van Brussel from the old master collection

Flowers in a Vase, Paulus Theodorus van Brussel (1789).

Van Brussel was born in the village of Zuid Polsbroek, near Utrecht. His first teacher was the Haarlem painter Jan Augustini (1729–1773), for whom he worked making decorative paintings for the walls of elegant homes.

Van Brussel moved to Amsterdam in 1774, and lived there for the remainder of his life, active as a painter of fruit and flower still lifes; dated works are known from 1778 to 1794. His colourful and highly finished paintings featured in prominent collections throughout Europe.

He drowned while ice skating, at the age of 41.

The flowers depicted in this lavish still life include hyacinths, morning glories, marigolds, peonies, roses, iris, and tulips. As is often the case, the bouquet has not been painted from life but rather composed in a highly imaginary manner from flowers that were in bloom at different times. The terracotta vase is decorated with reliefs of laurel leaf garlands and a medallion with an antique head in profile.

Van Brussel’s style is closely based on that of his predecessor, Jan van Huysum. Like most of his paintings, including Flowers in a Vase and Fruit and Flowers, this work was painted on a smooth mahogany panel.