Lot 175: SIMON PIETERSZ. VERELST (The Hague 1644-1710(?)/21 London)

Roses, irises, poppies and other flowers in a glass vase on a ledge signed 'S.Verelst.f' (lower right) oil on canvas 25 x 193/4 in. (63.5 x 50.2 cm.) PROVENANCE Mr. Beresford Wright, 1898, thence by descent until sold, Phillips, London 8 December 1987, lot 79. NOTES Simon Verelst was born and raised in The Hague and went to London at the age of 24 or 25, swiftly establishing himself as the leading flower painter in the city. Unfortunately the praise with which his works were received went to his head: he took to calling himself 'God of Flowers' and 'King of Painting' and eventually was incarcerated in an asylum. The present painting follows Verelst's characteristic composition and color scheme; an S-shaped axis with a visually striking flower at either end in white, pink, orange or red, and the center fully illuminated. While it is difficult to accurately date his paintings, the present picture, which can be compared to a pair of still lifes in a private American collection (see Sam Sagal in the exhibition catalogue Otto Naumann, Ltd, Inaugral Exhibition of Old Master Paintings, 1995, p. 122, no. 27), appears to have been conceived during his early years in England, circa 1672.