Still Life with Roses

Makart uses a special pigment for this work: asphalt (bitumen), a residual material from refining crude oil. Partly soluble in oil-binding agents, it often causes colours to darken. Excessive use of this pigment leads to severe damage in a painting, and this brought the artist much criticism. He applied the paint alla prima, i.e. directly, without underpainting or glaze, on a gold ground. Dark pigment, white blooms and gold ground form a decorative contrast in this arrangement of a variety of flowers, twigs and fruit. The wilting impression may represent the decadence of the time.

DUCKE Astrid: Makart Hans, Still Life with Roses, object description for the exhibition "Masterworks. Residenzgalerie Salzburg" (23.2.-3.7.2022)