Maria Margrita Van Os was a Dutch artist born into a family with a strong artistic background on January 20, 1779, in The Hague, Netherlands. Her father, Jan van Os, was a notable still-life painter, and her mother, Susanna de la Croix, was also an artist. Growing up in this creative environment, Maria Margrita was heavily influenced by her family and received her initial training from her father, who was her primary teacher in the arts.
Maria Margrita specialized in still-life paintings, particularly those depicting flowers and fruit, a genre that was quite popular in the Netherlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. Her work was characterized by a fine attention to detail, vibrant colors, and a lifelike representation of her subjects. These qualities made her paintings highly sought after during her lifetime.
She exhibited her work in various venues, including the Salon de Paris, which was quite an achievement, especially for a woman artist at that time. Despite the societal challenges of her era, which often limited women's opportunities in the professional art world, Van Os managed to gain recognition and respect for her work.
Maria Margrita Van Os remained active as an artist throughout her life. Her last known exhibition took place when she was 82 years old. She never married and remained dedicated to her art until her death on March 10, 1862, in her hometown of The Hague. Today, her works can be found in various museum collections and continue to be appreciated for their beauty and technical skill.