Fleurs dans un vase de cristal (c.1882)

Manet, Édouard (1832-1883)

Fleurs dans un vase de cristal (Flowers in a Crystal Vase)
c.1882
Oil on canvas, 32.7 x 24.5 cm
National Gallery of ArtWashington

A bouquet of cut flowers in a clear glass vase nearly fills this vertical painting. The vase has straight sides and the rounded bottom is supported by short, round feet. Some of the flowers can be identified as white roses and carnations but other less defined flowers are executed in quick touches of delphinium blue, marigold orange, brick red, and butter yellow. Green stalks and leaves are interspersed throughout, and green stems fill the vase. Some of the flowers and vegetation are thickly painted, and these contrast with other areas where the paint is more thinly applied. The bouquet is set against a pale gray background, and the vase casts a subtle blue shadow to our right. The artist signed the painting in gray letters at the lower right: “Manet.” (NGA)