How can we be inspired by Dutch and Flemish paintings from 1600-1800?

Dutch and Flemish Renaissance paintings depicting 16th-century life are significant for marking the emergence of a new artistic style—one that captured landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and scenes of everyday life.

Explore the paintings using the sources below, then discuss the questions provided.

Please Note:

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Teachers should review all content for classroom suitability.

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Jacob Vosmaer

A Vase with Flowers Artist: Jacob Vosmaer (Dutch, Delft ca. 1584–1641 Delft) Date: probably 1613 Medium: Oil on wood Dimensions: 33 1/2 x 24 5/8 in. (85.1 x 62.5 cm) Classification: Paintings Credit Line: Purchase, 1871

A Vase with Flowers, Jacob Vosmaer (Dutch, Delft ca. 1584–1641 Delft) 1613, Oil on wood, 33 1/2 x 24 5/8 in, Purchase, 1871

Questions to Ask Children

How would you describe the mood of this painting?

How have the colours impacted the mood?

How does the painting make you feel?

Jan Davidsz

Close up of Flowers in a glass vase by Dutch painter Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1606-1684, Oil on wooden panel, height 93.2 cm x width 69.6 cm - from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Close up of Flowers in a glass vase by Dutch painter Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1606-1684, Oil on wooden panel, height 93.2 cm x width 69.6 cm – from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Questions to Ask Children

How does this painting compare with the first painting of flowers?

Which do you prefer and why?

Rachel Ruysch

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Still life with a rose branch, beetle and bee (1741) painting in high resolution by Rachel Ruysch.

Explore another painting by Rachel Ruysch in close detail on Art UK, featured in their The Superpower of Looking project.

Questions to Ask Pupils

What stands out to you when you look at this painting and why?

How would you describe the atmosphere of this painting?

Melchior d’ Hondecoeter

Peacocks Artist: Melchior d' Hondecoeter (Dutch, Utrecht 1636–1695 Amsterdam) Date: 1683 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 74 7/8 x 53 in. (190.2 x 134.6 cm) Classification: Paintings Credit Line: Gift of Samuel H. Kress, 1927 Accession Number: 27.250.1

Peacocks, Melchior d’ Hondecoeter (Dutch, Utrecht 1636–1695 Amsterdam), 1683, Oil on canvas, 74 7/8 x 53 in. (190.2 x 134.6 cm), Gift of Samuel H. Kress, 1927

Questions to Ask Children

What can you see in this painting?

What time of day do you think this painting captures? Why?

Do you think that the animals in this painting get on? Why?

Why do you think the animals have congregated together in this painting?

What do you like/dislike about this painting? Why?

Peter Claesz

Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill Artist: Pieter Claesz (Dutch, Berchem? 1596/97–1660 Haarlem) Date: 1628 Medium: Oil on wood Dimensions: 9 1/2 x 14 1/8 in. (24.1 x 35.9 cm) Classification: Paintings Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1949 Accession Number: 49.107

Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill, Pieter Claesz (Dutch, Berchem? 1596/97–1660 Haarlem), 1628, Oil on wood, 24.1 x 35.9 cm, Rogers Fund, 1949

Talking Points: Flemish and Dutch Still Life Paintings

How can we be inspired by Dutch and Flemish paintings from 1600-1800?

Dutch and Flemish Renaissance paintings depicting 16th-century life are significant for marking the emergence of a new artistic style—one that captured landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and scenes of everyday life.

Explore the paintings using the sources below, then discuss the questions provided.

Please Note:

This page includes links and videos from external sites, verified at publication but subject to change.

Teachers should review all content for classroom suitability.

Report any issues, and check school firewall settings if videos don’t play.

Jacob Vosmaer

A Vase with Flowers, Jacob Vosmaer (Dutch, Delft ca. 1584–1641 Delft) 1613, Oil on wood, 33 1/2 x 24 5/8 in, Purchase, 1871

Questions to Ask Children

How would you describe the mood of this painting?

How have the colours impacted the mood?

How does the painting make you feel?

Jan Davidsz

Close up of Flowers in a glass vase by Dutch painter Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1606-1684, Oil on wooden panel, height 93.2 cm x width 69.6 cm – from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Questions to Ask Children

How does this painting compare with the first painting of flowers?

Which do you prefer and why?

Rachel Ruysch

Still life with a rose branch, beetle and bee (1741) painting in high resolution by Rachel Ruysch.

Explore another painting by Rachel Ruysch in close detail on Art UK, featured in their The Superpower of Looking project.

Questions to Ask Pupils

What stands out to you when you look at this painting and why?

How would you describe the atmosphere of this painting?

Melchior d’ Hondecoeter

Peacocks, Melchior d’ Hondecoeter (Dutch, Utrecht 1636–1695 Amsterdam), 1683, Oil on canvas, 74 7/8 x 53 in. (190.2 x 134.6 cm), Gift of Samuel H. Kress, 1927

Questions to Ask Children

What can you see in this painting?

What time of day do you think this painting captures? Why?

Do you think that the animals in this painting get on? Why?

Why do you think the animals have congregated together in this painting?

What do you like/dislike about this painting? Why?

Peter Claesz

Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill, Pieter Claesz (Dutch, Berchem? 1596/97–1660 Haarlem), 1628, Oil on wood, 24.1 x 35.9 cm, Rogers Fund, 1949

Questions to Ask Children

What can you see?

What do you think the painter was trying to say with this painting?

What do you like/dislike about it?

How does this painting make you feel?

This Talking Points Is Used In…

Pathway: Exploring Still Life

This is featured in the ‘Explore Still Life’ pathway

using sketchbooks to make visual notes

Show me what you see