A Cup of Water and a Rose
- Artist: Francisco de Zurbarán
- Date: about 1630
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Cup of Water and a Rose" by Francisco de Zurbarán, painted in the early 1630s. On a tabletop or ledge, a ceramic cup of water with delicately curved handles sits in the centre of a silver plate. A thornless rose in full bloom balances on the plate’s edge.
These objects have strong religious significance and would have been immediately obvious to devout Spanish viewers in the seventeenth century. The cup of water is seen as a symbol of purity, referencing the Virgin Mary's role in giving birth to Christ. The rose also has associations with Mary, and its thornlessness may refer to her Immaculate Conception.
The painting encourages meditation and quiet contemplation, much like Zurbarán's religious works. The surrounding space is starkly simple, providing no distractions as we appreciate the beauty of light reflecting on water and bouncing off polished surfaces. Different textures are vividly conveyed through the delicate rose petals, cool ceramic cup, and metal plate reflections.
This painting was likely made shortly after Zurbarán moved to Seville and established his workshop there. Few still-life paintings by him are known, though he often included them in his religious works. Our painting is closely related to one of his most celebrated still lifes, "Still Life with Basket of Oranges," but it may have been produced as an independent work.
See it in person
A Cup of Water and a Rose hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
