A Forest Floor with a Thistle, a Snake, a Lizard and Butterflies by Otto Marseus van Schrieck. A dark, atmospheric forest floor scene featuring a large thistle surrounded by various butterflies, a coiled snake, a lizard, and small mushrooms.

A Forest Floor with a Thistle, a Snake, a Lizard and Butterflies

Otto Marseus van Schrieck

1656 · Oil Paint, Canvas

A dramatic and atmospheric study of the hidden life on a forest floor by Dutch master Otto Marseus van Schrieck.

$129

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From $129

6 frame sizes

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Where it works

A grounded artwork with confident presence with softened warm notes — supports a polished room with depth.

Often works in
Library · Study · Living Room
Placement
Works well in taller wall spaces with room around it
Walls
Reads strongest on light or mid-tone walls
Color notes
Charcoal black

About the piece

This 1656 masterpiece by Otto Marseus van Schrieck exemplifies the 'sotto-bosco' or forest floor genre he pioneered. Set against a deep, dark background, the painting captures a miniature ecosystem of butterflies, a thistle, a lizard, and a coiled snake with luminous detail and the scientific curiosity typical of the Dutch Golden Age.

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