A Vase of Flowers
A Vase of Flowers
A Vase of Flowers
Margareta Haverman, 1716
Some works reveal themselves only with time.
Margareta Haverman's A Vase of Flowers is not simply a botanical study, but a celebration of observation itself. Emerging from a dark niche, roses, tulips, carnations, grapes, peaches, butterflies, insects, and curling vines gather into a composition that feels simultaneously alive and suspended in time. Every return to the painting offers another hidden detail waiting to be discovered.
Remarkably, only two surviving paintings are known to be by Haverman today. Celebrated during her lifetime for her extraordinary talent, she studied under the famously secretive flower painter Jan van Huysum before earning admission to the French Royal Academy. Her mastery is evident in this extraordinary arrangement, where technical precision and quiet atmosphere coexist in perfect balance.
Time has transformed the work in unexpected ways. Haverman employed innovative pigments, including Prussian blue, while certain organic yellow pigments have naturally faded over the centuries, lending many of the leaves their distinctive cool blue appearance today. Rather than diminishing the painting, this passage of time has become part of its character, creating a uniquely atmospheric palette impossible to recreate intentionally.
The bouquet itself rewards prolonged attention. Among the flowers are roses, hollyhocks, calendula, tulips, poppies, and forget-me-nots, accompanied by clusters of grapes, peaches, butterflies, ants, flies, and even a small snail—a tradition inherited from the great Dutch and Flemish flower painters who sought to capture both beauty and the fleeting nature of life.
Originally painted in 1716 and now held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, A Vase of Flowers remains one of the rare surviving works of an artist whose legacy far exceeds the number of paintings left behind. It stands as both an artistic achievement and a quiet act of preservation across three centuries.
About This Print
- Museum-quality giclée reproduction
- Printed on archival fine art paper
- Produced to preserve the painting's extraordinary tonal depth, texture, and subtle color transitions
- Includes a complimentary ½-inch archival white border on all sides for museum-style presentation and easier framing
- Available in four carefully curated sizes
Available Sizes
Study — 6×8 — $22
An intimate introduction to the work, ideal for shelves, reading nooks, and layered gallery walls.
Gallery — 8.5×11 — $42
A balanced presentation that allows the painting's intricate detail and atmosphere to emerge naturally.
Collection — 10×13 — $60
A fuller expression of Haverman's remarkable composition, inviting closer study and repeated discovery.
Artist Sized — 12×16 — $78
The largest curated edition, preserving the richness, subtlety, and immersive quality of the original masterpiece.
Each print is produced to order and carefully packaged to preserve its archival quality and ensure safe arrival.
The listed dimensions refer to the artwork itself. Every print includes a complimentary ½-inch archival white border on all sides, creating a museum-style presentation and making framing easier.