Mad about tulips: Balthasar van der Ast's Flowers in a Vase with Shells and Insects

The ripe and lush forms of nature gather in heady beauty in this masterpiece of Dutch flower painting. Why did Dutch art collectors in the 17th century like to have painted flowers on their walls? It was not always spring and tulips were not always in bloom. In a culture that was mad for flowers, paintings like this embody a visual tulipomania, preserving spring’s colours through the year, inviting contemplation of the wonder of the natural world Illustration: National Gallery