Fruit and Flowers in a Terracotta Vase

Although this still life is celebrating nature's fruits and flowers, the composition of the painting is anything but natural. The pineapple carefully balances on top of a tower of flowers and other natural fruits. In 1777 the microscope had just been invented and this made it possible for artists such as Jan Van Os to paint insects in their pictures with great accuracy, as seen by the fly on the stem of the deep red rose and the butterfly perching on the tulip petal. This print is colour matched to the original painting and approved by the National Gallery. Every purchase supports the work of the museum.