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Balthasar van der Ast Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Balthasar van der Ast · 1593 – 1657

Still-Life with Fruits, Shells and Insects

1620 · Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg · original 75 x 104 cm

Discover Balthasar van der Ast's exquisite 1620 still life featuring vibrant fruits, shells, and birds from the Dutch Golden Age; bring this masterpiece home.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$377104 × 75 cm Commission at original size

Flowers and Fruit

1620 · Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · original 39 x 70 cm

Balthasar van der Ast's "Flowers and Fruit" (1620) is a stunning Baroque still life masterpiece, showcasing intricate details of nature’s bounty with remarkable realism & symbolism.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17742 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22870 × 39 cm Commission at original size

Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase, with Shells

1650 · Mauritshuis, The Hague · original 53 x 43 cm

Admire Van der Ast’s ‘Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase,’ a stunning 1650 Dutch Golden Age still life. Explore intricate details, rich colors & symbolic beauty within this exquisite Baroque masterpiece.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$21543 × 53 cm Commission at original size

Fruit, Flowers, and Shells

1629 · Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo · original 55 x 89 cm

Balthasar van der Ast’s ‘Fruit, Flowers, and Shells’ (1629) showcases a lavish Dutch Golden Age still life brimming with exquisitely rendered fruit, shells, and exotic creatures, highlighting the artist's pioneering shell painting technique and scientific observation.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17740 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$29289 × 55 cm Commission at original size

Fruit Still Life with Shells and Tulip

1620 · Mauritshuis, The Hague · original 46 x 64 cm

Admire Balthasar van der Ast's masterpiece – 'Fruit Still Life with Shells and Tulip' (1620) from Mauritshuis! Explore its intricate details, symbolic richness & groundbreaking shell painting technique.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$23564 × 46 cm Commission at original size

Basket of Fruits

1625 · Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin · original 14 x 20 cm

Balthasar van der Ast’s work profoundly impacted subsequent generations of painters, establishing him as a pioneer in still life art and cementing his legacy as one of the most celebrated artists of his time.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Plate with Fruits and Shells

1630 · Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg · original 46 x 60 cm

Vibrant Dutch Golden Age still life featuring fruits and shells by Balthasar van der Ast; discover this exquisite 17th-century masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22960 × 46 cm Commission at original size

Fruits and Shells on a Ledge

Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york · original 37 x 51 cm

Delve into the captivating world of Balthasar van der Ast’s ‘Fruits and Shells on a Ledge,’ a Dutch Golden Age masterpiece showcasing meticulous detail & symbolic richness—a testament to nature's beauty.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$20351 × 37 cm Commission at original size

Flower Still-Life with Shell and Insects

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid

Admire Balthasar van der Ast's masterful depiction of floral beauty and scientific observation in 'Flower Still-Life with Shell and Insects,' housed at Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Still-Life with Apple Blossoms (detail)

1635 · Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin

Admire Balthasar van der Ast's 'Still-Life with Apple Blossoms' (1635). A stunning Dutch Golden Age masterpiece showcasing exquisite floral detail and serene beauty.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Still-Life with Flowers, Fruit, and Shells

1640 · Musee de la Chartreuse, Duffel · original 134 x 140 cm

Admire Balthasar van der Ast's 'Still-Life with Flowers,' a stunning 1640 masterpiece showcasing vibrant fruits, delicate flowers & intricate shell details – a hallmark of Dutch Golden Age art.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17732 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$695140 × 134 cm Commission at original size

Flowers in a Vase with Shells and Insects

1630 · National Gallery, London · original 47 x 37 cm

Balthasar van der Ast's 'Flowers in a Vase' is a stunning 1630 oil painting showcasing exquisite shell and insect details within a vibrant floral still life. A masterpiece of Dutch Golden Age art.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$19937 × 47 cm Commission at original size

Vase with a single tulip

1625 · Mauritshuis, The Hague · original 27.0 x 20.0cm

This serene 1625 Dutch Golden Age still life by Balthasar van der Ast features a single variegated tulip. Discover this masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Still-Life with Apple Blossoms

1635 · Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin · original 22 x 39 cm

Admire Balthasar van der Ast's 'Still Life with Apple Blossoms' (1635). A stunning Dutch Golden Age masterpiece showcasing exquisite floral detail and serene beauty.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17742 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Chinese Vase with Flowers, Shells and Insects

1628 · Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid · original 51.6 x 33.1cm

This Dutch Golden Age still life by Balthasar van der Ast features vibrant flowers and exotic shells. Discover this masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17725 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$19833 × 52 cm Commission at original size

Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase

1623 · Mauritshuis, The Hague · original 41.0 x 32.0cm

This Dutch Golden Age still life by Balthasar van der Ast features lush blooms in a Wan-Li vase. Discover the beauty of this masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$18632 × 41 cm Commission at original size

Still Life with Flowers

1627 · Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam · original 59.0 x 43.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$22343 × 59 cm Commission at original size

Still-life with Dish of Fruit

Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin

Admire 'Still-life with Dish of Fruit' by Balthasar van der Ast – a stunning Baroque masterpiece! Explore this exquisite Dutch Golden Age painting online.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17741 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

Floral Still Life with Shells

1622 · Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis · original 33.5 x 22.2cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

A Vase of Flowers

1620 · Ashmolean Museum, Oxford · original 30.0 x 24.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17728 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Bouquet in a Wan-Li Vase with a Gilt Mount

1619 · Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena · original 80.0 x 54.6cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17726 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$27755 × 80 cm Commission at original size

Fruit Still Life with Two Parrots

1623 · Statens Museum For Kunst, Copenhagen · original 22.5 x 30.5cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Fruit and Shells

1620 · Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Dresden · original 29.0 x 37.0cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17736 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$17937 × 29 cm Commission at original size

Vase of Flowers by a Window

1650 · Anhalt Art Gallery, Dessau · original 67 x 98 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17737 × 27 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$34198 × 67 cm Commission at original size

Still Life of Flowers, Fruit, Shells, and Insects

Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 71 artworks by Balthasar van der Ast
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17742 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Balthasar van der Ast

1593 – 1657

Quick facts

Top 3 worksStill-Life with Fruits, Shells and Insects, Flowers and Fruit, Flowers in a Wan-Li Vase, with Shells
Gift suitabilityanniversary
Corpus themesscientific observation, humanist philosophy, dutch golden age, humanist symbolism, symbolism
Typical colorsespresso
Mediumsoil on canvas, oil on panel
Died1657
Emotional tonereflective, tranquil
Lifespan64 years

Biography

The Master of the Miniature Universe: Balthasar van der Ast

In the golden light of the seventeenth-century Netherlands, a period defined by unprecedented prosperity and scientific curiosity, Balthasar van der Ast emerged as a virtuoso of the small-scale masterpiece. Born in Middelburg around 1593, van der Ast did not merely paint objects; he orchestrated silent dramas upon canvas. His life was deeply intertwined with the burgeoning merchant culture of Zeeland, being the son of a prosperous wool merchant, Hans van der Ast. This background provided him with more than just social stability; it offered an early intimacy with the exotic goods and precious specimens that would later become the protagonists of his celebrated still lifes.

The trajectory of his artistic soul was irrevocably shaped by his connection to the Bosschaert dynasty. Through a familial bond, van der Ast became the protégé of the legendary Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, his stepfather. Under this tutelage, he mastered the meticulous precision required for the "flower piece," a genre that demanded an almost microscopic level of observation. This lineage of excellence allowed him to refine a technique characterized by subtle tonal gradations and a profound respect for the physical texture of nature. He was not alone in this pursuit of perfection; alongside his brother-in-laws, he helped cultivate a stylistic movement that prioritized the delicate interplay of light and shadow, turning simple botanical studies into profound meditations on existence.

A Symphony of Shells and Flora

While many of his contemporaries focused solely on the ephemeral beauty of blossoms, van der Ast achieved historical immortality through his pioneering explorations into conchology. He became a pioneer of shell painting, treating the calcified remains of sea creatures with the same reverence as the softest petal. In works such as "Still-Life with Plums, Cherries, and Shells," one can witness the breathtaking marriage of different textures: the juicy, translucent skin of fruit contrasted against the hard, pearlescent surfaces of exotic shells. This fascination was not merely aesthetic; it reflected the era's burgeoning scientific interest in natural history and the global reach of Dutch maritime commerce.

His compositions often functioned as much more than mere displays of wealth or botanical accuracy. To look closely at a van der Ast painting is to engage with a complex web of symbolism rooted in humanist philosophy. Within his arrangements, one might find:

The Ephemeral Nature of Life: Represented through wilting petals or insects that consume the very beauty they inhabit.
Scientific Observation: A meticulous recording of species, reflecting the Age of Discovery and the era's thirst for knowledge.
Vanitas Themes: Subtle reminders of mortality, where the decay of fruit serves as a poignant memento mori.

Legacy and Artistic Significance

The influence of Balthasar van der Ast extended far beyond his own studio in Utrecht. By welcoming artists like Roelandt Savery into the local guild, he helped foster an environment where tonality and realism could flourish. His ability to infuse inanimate objects with a sense of life—a quality seen in his depictions of lizards and insects crawling amidst fruit—set a new standard for the Dutch Golden Age. He moved the still life genre away from static arrangement toward a more dynamic, breathing reality.

Today, his works remain cornerstones of museum collections worldwide, from the British Museum to the great galleries of Europe. His legacy is found in every brushstroke that captures the dewdrop on a leaf or the iridescent sheen of a seashell. Balthasar van der Ast remains a titan of the Stilleven, an artist who taught the world to find the infinite within the infinitesimal, and who transformed the humble objects of the natural world into eternal icons of beauty.

Questions & Answers

What are the birth city and country of Balthasar van der Ast?

Balthasar van der Ast was born in Middelburg, in Netherlands.

Is there a 3D virtual tour of Balthasar van der Ast's works?

The 3D Museum of Balthasar van der Ast is a page that displays the artist's artworks in a virtual three-dimensional gallery.

In which historical period did Balthasar van der Ast work?

Balthasar van der Ast worked in the Early-Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Aug. 31, 2026

Collector's quiz

Where was Balthasar van der Ast born?
Who trained Balthasar van der Ast as a still life painter?
What genre of painting is Balthasar van der Ast particularly known for?
With whom did Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder collaborate in establishing a renowned artistic dynasty?
What is described as “beautiful” by an amsterdam doctor regarding Balthasar van der Ast’s artistic output?

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