Vase of flowers with a broken tuberose

In the early 19th century, flower painting was an art undertaken by specialists. Like his contemporaries, the artist worked from nature and engravings so as to depict a wide range of flowers: peonies, roses, primroses, and Indian roses. In the foreground of this picture, the white tuberose with a broken stem offsets the flame yellow and purple tulip, and the red poppy at the top of the bouquet. With his multiple perspectives, the artist presents a perfectly masterful composition. This selection of flowers, which bloom at different times of year, invites the viewer to consider the beauty of nature and the fragility of life, evoking the transitory nature of life on earth.