Flowers in a Classical Vase

French 17th Century

National Gallery of Art

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.