Still life with flowers in a glass vase, Jan Davidsz. de Heem, 1650 – 1683

Begin at the center, the tightly bundled, softly layered rose petals fold in as they open in delicate perfection in the most exquisite tones of light and shade. The small stem, by highlights and shadow, displays the three dimensional geometry of the sun, along the tiniest thorns. Light creates color, contrast, composition, harmony, texture, and movement, even by its absence.

Inside the vase is a technical tour-de-force: the reflection of a window on the vase's inner surface, seen through the translucence of the water.

Flowers and insects include roses, carnations, peonies, wheat, cow parsley, morning glory, narcissus, opium, the semper augustus tulip, sweet pea, dog rose, honeysuckle, hydrangea, anemone, a red admiral butterfly, caterpillars, ants, beetles, a lady bug, spiders and a garden snail.