“Glowing” Flower Paintings: The Realism of Jan van Huysum | Jan van Huysum | Still Life Flower Painter | Getty Center

Jan van Huysum was a famously mysterious and reclusive artist (1682-1749), and was recognized as the most outstanding Dutch still life and flower painter of the 18th century. His work is revered for its rich imagination, luxurious feel, rich colors, fine textures, and highly detailed realism.

The key to these achievements lies in Jan van Haitham’s careful and trouble-free technique of applying thin layers of glaze to the canvas. Although many people tried to imitate it, no contemporary painter could do it.

The Getty Center in Los Angeles collects two masterpieces, “Vase of Flowers” and “Fruit Piece”, created by Jan van Haitham in 1722. These two paintings show that his talent has stood the test of time.

Protectworks and property

Jan van Haitham seemed destined to become an artist. His father was a fixture in the art world as a painter and dealer, and Haytham’s three brothers were also in the same field. Since plants are limited by their fragile nature and different growing seasons, Jan van Haitham differed from the practice of that era and insisted on using fresh flowers to create dazzling flower paintings.

The Netherlands was and still is a country that loves gardening. Jan van Heysham lived in Amsterdam, then the center of art, science and global trade in the Dutch Republic. He planted flower samples in his garden so he could observe and study them closely. In addition, he frequently visits plant nurseries locally and in Haarlem.

Jan van Haitham’s artistic characteristic is to add flowers of different seasons into his compositions. So sometimes it takes him several years to complete a piece of work. These works of extraordinary skill were highly valued and favored by cultured art buyers, including the kings of Poland and Prussia, Sir Robert Walpole, the landgrave of Hesse-Kassel Hesse-Kassel), the elector of Saxony and the Duc d’Orléans, etc.

Jan van Heytham was as passionate about flowers and accuracy as he was about protecting his work and property. It is said that even his own brothers were not allowed to enter his studio, lest they know how he was able to capture the sweetness of flowers using only paint and superb skills. Jan van Haitham was different from other successful artists at the time in that he only had one apprentice, but it is said that he was too demanding of his student’s skills and that led to the end of his mentorship.

Jan van Heytham’s paintings remained popular throughout the rest of his life, and he was very wealthy when he died. Art historians believe that his still life art of flowers and fruits is unrivaled in terms of technique and composition.

Iconic style

The still life paintings “Vase” and “Fruit” in the Getty Center’s collection may have been planned as a pair of paintings. In Jan van Haitham’s time, painters often painted floral art and fruit scenes on separate canvases, with the intention that the works would be displayed in pairs. Both paintings date to the same Dutch collector in the early 19th century and were kept in the same family until they were acquired by the German Rothschild family in the 1870s. The two works remained with them for more than a century, until they were acquired by the Getty Center in 1982.

The still life “Vase” reflects Jan van Haitham’s signature style. The viewer’s attention is drawn to the luxurious and lush composition of flowers in different stages of growth, including buds, blooming flowers, and fading petals. Expensive and exquisite varieties in the painting include anemones, auriculas, carnations, delphiniums, honeysuckles, hyacinths, morning glories, daffodils (narcissi), peonies (peonies), roses and tulips (flowers associated with the Netherlands). The Getty Center notes that the work is “arranged in a loose pyramid shape, with flowers and greenery blooming freely in the vase. Butterflies and other insects fly or crawl among the flowers, and water droplets are also clearly visible.”

The presentation of the overall painting will amaze the viewer, who wants to appreciate it carefully and identify all the flowers, insects and other details, such as the veins of each leaf, the petals and the bird’s nest on the edge of the base. In addition, even the artist’s signature is very realistic, as if it were carved on the stone base.

Jan van Haitham uses dramatic light and shadow effects to create a sense of space in and around the bouquets. He often arranges burnt orange red clay vases with an antique charm into his compositions. The work “Vase” also shows relief scenes with classical figures and cute little angels. Jan van Haitham strikes a balance between celebrating nature and capturing its original beauty, while at the same time demonstrating his profound knowledge of botanicals through the elegant arrangement of scenes.

In the still life “Fruit Piece”, Jan van Haitham also placed some flowers among abundant fruits, including berries, grapes, melons, peaches, plums and peeled pomegranates. Colorful thick vines interspersed among the food and flowers. The Getty Center pointed out that in this scene, “the artist combined the glossy realism of 17th-century Dutch art with the bright colors of the 18th century…Cracked and overripe fruits fill the table and are arranged irregularly, some What falls off becomes prey for insects.” The terracotta urn with lid in the background is full of curves and rhythm, laying the foundation for the composition. The pottery urn can also be seen engraved with a cherub holding grapes.

“Fruit” shows that Jan van Heytham’s still life paintings made key advances in light and open-air scenes. From the typical background of a still life painting, Jan van Heytham’s background has undergone significant changes. As seen in his “Vase”, the background is neutral and appears quite dark under direct lighting. The background of “Fruit” appears to be in an otherworldly forest landscape, with a classical sculpture and two figures on the right clearly visible in the mist. Once again, if the viewer carefully appreciates the minute details in Jan van Haitham’s works, it is guaranteed to be worth the price of admission.

The works of Jan van Haitham are the pinnacle of the golden age of traditional Dutch still life painting. This “phoenix among flower painters” not only creates new compositions and uses bright tones, but also tries new pigments to create stunning “luminous” works. Beautiful and abundant flowers paired with fruit evoke reflections on nature and the fleeting nature of life: eventually, flowers will wither and fruits will rot. However, Van Haitham’s works remain timeless and fresh.

original:Jan van Huysum’s Blooms at the Getty CenterPublished in the English Epoch Times.

author:Michelle‧Michelle Plastrik works as an art consultant and currently lives in New York City. Writing on a wide range of topics, including art history, the art market, museums, art fairs, special exhibitions, and more.

This article only represents the author’s personal views and does not necessarily reflect the position of The Epoch Times.

Editor in charge: Jasmine◇