Maria van Oosterwijck (1630-1693) – Vanitas Still Life, c. 1690
This work by Maria van Oosterwijck, one of the most important Dutch women painters of the 17th century, is now on display in the Gallery of Honour at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Renowned for her flower still lifes the religious connotations of this painting make it one of the artist’s most deeply personal works. For Van Oosterwijck, the still life was a testament to her faith. Acquired in 2023 it has since been examined and restored.
Paintings by Maria van Oosterwijck are exceptionally rare because of the limited body of work that she left to posterity. Only some 30 works by the artist have survived to the present day, and this acquisition means that two are now in Dutch ownership. The general director of the Rijksmuseum Taco Dibbits said: “We are delighted that, with this painting, we can offer her the place of honour that she deserves.”
With Judith Leyster and Rachel Ruysch, Maria van Oosterwijck was one of the few 17th-century Dutch artists to achieve international fame during her lifetime. Her impressive roster of clients included the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV of France, King Jan III Sobieski of Poland, Cosimo III de’ Medici of Tuscany, and Emperor Leopold of Austria.