Vase of Flowers and Conch Shell 1780

Anne Vallayer-Coster created this oval still life, "Vase of Flowers and Conch Shell," with oil on canvas. It displays a common subject within the French Royal Academy, where Vallayer-Coster gained membership in 1770, and the image signals larger themes within the Academy. The Academy served to establish visual codes, cultural references and historical associations. Vallayer-Coster's selection of flowers reflects the fashion for elaborate displays in aristocratic households, reflecting an economy increasingly focused on luxury. A conch shell would have been an import, indicating France's role in international trade and the growing wealth of its mercantile class. The Academy’s encouragement of still life painting served a conservative social function by allowing women artists, such as Vallayer-Coster, to participate without challenging traditional social hierarchies. The interpretation of art is always contingent on social and institutional context, and that’s where art historians come in. We look at economic data, fashion trends, gender studies, and more to see how these factors converge on one painted surface.