This floral painting is signed P. T. van Brufel me fecit 1792.

It is painted by Paul Theodor van Brussel, a flower painter, born at Zuid-Polsbroek, near Schoonhoven, in 1754, was a scholar of Jean Augustin, and of H. Meyer of Haarlem in the Netherlands. He was first employed in the manufacture of tapestry, but afterwards devoted his attention entirely to nature, and became one of the best fruit and flower painters of his time. His later pictures are his best, and are to be found in some of the richest collections. He died at Amsterdam in 1795.

Take a good look at the background. It shows a woodland. It as if this floral bouquet is placed on a balustrade and you are able to walk around it, viewing and admiring the flowers that are hidden from this front perspective. Or in modern language: ‘Very 3D’.

You see the broken yellow reddish tulip in the south-west quarter? It tells you beauty and life won’t last for ever. But before you turn doleful, look at the bird nest promising new life. Resonate with both these symbols; with the dying flower and the new life in the bird nest and feel how you get absorbed into the eternal network of life.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Paula Kuitenbrouwer sells exquisite fine art cards of her drawings as well as reproductions, and of some drawings smaller business-, gift- or mummy-cards. See Purchase in the header for what is available as well as the price list. In case you like to commission Paula, contact her at mindfuldrawing@gmail.com