A Stone Cartouche with the Virgin and Child, Encircled by a Garland of Flowers

Artists of this period often collaborated, bringing their unique talents to bear on a single work of art. Here, the figure painter Erasmus Quellinus II painted an elaborate cartouche while the still-life specialist Jan Philip van Thielen supplied the vivid flowers. Both artists signed the painting. Because the floral arrangement includes both spring and summer blooms, it could never have been assembled in a real-life bouquet. Instead, they form a timeless wreath of honour that symbolizes the eternal virtues of the Virgin and Child and pays tribute to their enduring holiness.