This beautiful late 17th-century Flemish still life depicts a sumptuous bouquet of flowers including roses, chrysanthemums and possibly a hydrangea or ‘snowball’ in a vase with putto decoration. It’s been suggested that the colourful pink and white flower in the lower right could be a rosa mundi.Throughout history, there have been certain events which, when combined, have produced the ideal environment for genius to flourish. This was certainly the case for the flower painters working in the low countries during the 17th century. Firstly, due to the prosperous trade with the West and East Indies, a new merchant class of citizen became exceedingly wealthy. Secondly, as a largely Protestant republic, painters were unconstrained by the requirements of the church. And thirdly, interest in botany and horticulture had intensified following ever-evolving scientific developments, which included the increasing use of microscopes.As such, the rising bourgeoisie sought to fill their homes...