Still Life of Flowers Fruit Shells and Insects by Balthasar van der Ast was created in 1629. The painting is in Birmingham Museum of Art. The size of the work is 43,1 x 73,6 cm and produced as an oil on panel.
This painting is richly filled with meticulously rendered objects that have an almost palpable quality, demonstrating van der Ast’s interest in the virtuoso effects of his craft. The painting might also hold an underlying message regarding the transience of earthly existence, as seen in the slowly withering flowers and grape leaves.
About the Artist: Dutch Golden Age painter Balthasar van der Ast was born in Middelburg. Van der Ast was trained by Bosschaert as a still life painter, and his early works clearly show Bosschaert’s influence. Van der Ast accompanied the Bosschaert family in their move in 1615 to Bergen op Zoom and in 1619 to Utrecht, where van der Ast entered the Utrecht Guild of St. Luke. Roelandt Savery (1576–1639) entered the St. Luke’s guild in Utrecht at about the same time… Read more
