The ‘Jan Symonsz’ tulip holds a special place within the ‘Ninetynine Tulips’ collection.
This tulip is one of three in the collection that are depicted only with their flowers, deviating from the rest.
In 17th-century tradition, the task of illustrating a tulip was often divided between two artists: the flower, the centerpiece, was drawn by the most experienced artist, while the leaves were often left to an apprentice or a less expensive artist. With these three tulips, it is possible that funds were limited.
The “Jan Symonsz” is named after a surgeon from De Rijp, who amassed considerable wealth through the trade in tulip bulbs. De Rijp, a historic town near Alkmaar, was known in the 17th century as a center for whaling and herring fishing. Today, it is renowned for its beautifully preserved historic buildings and picturesque canals.
Despite Jan Symonz’s success in the bulb trade, the tulip bearing his name was less successful. It appeared on a tulip auction list on February 5, 1637, in Haarlem. On this list, we see that his tulip was among the lowest-priced tulips. This sale occurred just before the Tulipmania crashed.
The theme of the NFTs for ‘Jan Symonsz’ tulips refers to the meaning of the surname ‘Symonsz’, which means ‘son of Simon.’ The theme is therefore inspired by the biblical character ‘Simon the Zealot,‘ one of the twelve apostles known for his fervent dedication.
Ninetynine Tulips 