Lot 53: TO BE SOLD BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTORS OF A DECEASED'S ESTATE Abraham Mignon (Frankfurt 1640-1679)

A still life of roses, poppies, a parrot tulip, convolvulus, a carnation, blackberries, redcurrants, ears of corn, cow parsley and other flowers in a glass vase on a stone ledge, surrounded by numerous insects, a butterfly, caterpillars, a snail and a spider
signed 'A. Mignon' (on ledge, lower right)
oil on panel
47 x 36.5 cm. (18 1/2 x 14 3/8 in.) with 2 cm. extension to the sides

Bloemstukken van oude meesters, Gallery P. de Boer, Amsterdam, 1935, no. 89

J.Mitchell, Gallery Notes, October 1950, ill.
G.Parthey, Deutscher Bildersaal, Verzeichnisder in Deutschland verhandenen Ölbilder verstorbener Maler aller Schulen, Berlin, 1863/64, vol. II, pp.136-39, No. 32
Peter Mitchell, European Flower Painters, London and New York, 1973 and 1981, p. 172, fig. 239
M. Kraemer-Noble, Abraham Mignon 1640-1679, Leigh-on-Sea, 1073, p.54, No. B150 (as 'Probably not genuine')

We are grateful to Fred Meijer for pointing out that this painting is "a wonderful example of Mignon's work, probably painted in close competition with Jan Davidsz. de Heem, before that artist moved back from Utrecht to Antwerp in 1672" (letter dated 9th October, 2003).

The present composition is highly comparable in both style and composition to a panel by Mignon of approximately the same dimensions, which is in the Ward Bequest, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford; and to another similar flowerpiece that was at Sotheby's, 6 July, 2000, lot 70 (sold for £580,000).
Flowerpieces are in the minority within the oeuvre that Mignon produced during his short life. However, it was when painting these, and in particular those on a smaller scale and on panel, that Mignon is regarded to have been at his best. The precise clarity of his technique was perfectly suited to the almost miniaturist quality of these still lifes, which benefit the viewer remarkably from close examination.

Collection M.C.G. de Candano
Anonymous sale Charpentier, Paris, 15 December, 1933 (Ader Collection), lot 38
With D.Katz, Dieren
With John Mitchell, London, 1950-51
Dr.J.A.Dongen collection, Amsterdam
Purchased by the present owner's family, 8 October 1955, from Bond Street Galleries (for £4,200) and thence by family descent