Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase 1887

Vincent van Gogh painted these Imperial Fritillaries in a Copper Vase with oil on canvas. The regal fritillaries, with their checkered pattern, hang heavy in a burnished vase, symbols of royalty and perhaps melancholy. Consider the 'crown imperial' motif, echoing across centuries, from Persian gardens to European still lifes. These downward-facing blooms appear in tapestries, heraldry, and botanical studies, yet their drooping posture often carries a somber note. Similarly, the 'Uroboros', an ancient symbol depicting a serpent devouring its own tail, also embodies this cyclical pattern of life and decay, a visual reminder of mortality. Here, Van Gogh captures not just the flowers' beauty but also their vulnerability, an emotional tension reflecting his own turbulent spirit. The weight of the blossoms, their impending fall, engages us on a deeply human level, reminding us of the transient nature of existence.