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Mar 23 2020

My Daily Art

Simon Pietersz Verelst. Flowers, c. 1705. oil on canvas, 64.3 x 48.6 cm. Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery; Acquired with funds from The Winnipeg Foundation. G-62-101.⁠

I often associate spring with new growth – and the waiting and hoping for things planted in past seasons to rise up. It’s like the crocus or tulip experience in Manitoba.

⁠The Dutch artist, Simon Pietersz Verelst (1644-1721), was a highly successful painter of flora and fauna at a time when imported exotic flowers and bulbs were a highly valued commodity throughout Europe. This meticulously detailed still life painting (c. 1705) in the WAG collection, features an array of ornamental petals and foliage, revealing the painter as master of both botanical art and trompe l’oeil. Part reality and part theatre – the composition delights, soothes, and invites us to go deeper into the maze of colours, textures, and fragrances. And right now, it feels good to look at a bunch of flowers.⁠

While the WAG is temporarily closed, your collection is still here for you. Stay connected with the art through daily posts from our Director & CEO, Dr. Stephen Borys.

This is a series of daily posts that will continue until the Gallery reopens. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, or visit our stories section.

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4 thoughts on "My Daily Art"

Mrs. Pro says:
March 23, 2020 at 12:16 pm

Uber realism! Some students don’t realize how tedious and time consuming this style of art really is!

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Dave says:
March 24, 2020 at 8:15 am

Very nice piece; thank you for making these accessible online during this time.

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Cindy K. says:
March 24, 2020 at 12:46 pm

Wonderful idea to have this during these uncertain times.

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Darlene says:
March 24, 2020 at 2:37 pm

Thank-you for making this art available on-line.

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