Twee tulpen met atalanta en rups 1637

Jacob Marrel’s 1637 painting, “Twee tulpen met atalanta en rups,” exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with nature and meticulous detail. The painting depicts two vibrantly colored tulips, with one adorned by a butterfly and the other by a caterpillar. Marrel’s skill in rendering the delicate textures of the petals, leaves, and insects, creates an almost photographic realism. The composition also includes the name of the tulip varieties, adding to the scientific value of this exquisite botanical painting, now housed at the Rijksmuseum.