Basket of Flowers c. 1660 - 1690

Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer made this print, "Basket of Flowers," on a sheet using etching and engraving. Monnoyer was a specialist in floral painting at a time when the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture was formalizing a hierarchy of genres. History painting was at the top, followed by portraiture, then genre scenes, landscapes, and still life. His work, therefore, can be seen as an example of the Academy’s influence on artistic production. However, it also became valued for its decorative qualities, especially in the context of interior design and the fashion for collecting botanical illustrations. This print allows us to consider the social and cultural meanings associated with flowers during the 17th century. The Dutch "Tulip Mania" shows how desirable flowers were at the time. To fully understand this print, we might consult historical records about the market for prints, the gardens where these flowers were grown, and the social rituals in which floral arrangements played a part.