Herman Saftleven

Agneta Block, her inscription in ink, verso (beneath backing sheet): Fritillaria Rara Speciis Argrie [?];
sale, Amsterdam, Paul Brandt, 24 November 1975, lot 1498, illustrated p. II

W. Schulz, 'Blumenzeichnungen von Herman Saftleven d.J.', in Zietschrift für Kunstgeschichte 40, Munich 1977, p. 152, no. 13, p. 144, fig. 9;
idem, Herman Saftleven, Berlin/New York 1982, p. 484, cat. no. 1433, fig. 229 (as three tulips)

Unframed. Laid down on 19th Century mount. There is some water damage to the left-hand side of the sheet, which has caused the watercolour to bleed somewhat in certain areas (visible in catalogue illustration). What appears to be a slight diagonal fault in the paper near the lower right corner. Some very pale foxing in the upper part of the sheet.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A small number of extremely decorative coloured drawings by Herman Saftleven of flowers and plants have survived.  These date from the period at the end of his life when the cultivation and collecting of flowers and plants reached new heights of popularity.  A central figure in the rise of this fashion was Agneta Block (1629-1704) a niece by marriage of the poet Joost van den Vondel, who commissioned various artists to make drawings of the enormous collection of plants and flowers she had amassed at her country house, 'Vijverhof', on the river Vecht (see also lot 118).  As Agneta did with each drawing in her collection, the verso of the present sheet bears her inscription of the plant's Latin name.

Saftleven's flower drawings were to be found in some quantity in the 18th-century collections of Valerius Röver and Samuel van Huls.  The handwritten catalogue of Röver's collection in the University Library of Amsterdam (UB II A 18) mentions drawings dated 1661 (probably meaning 1681), 1682, 1683 and 1684.  Saftleven's precise dating on the recto of the present sheet informs us that it was made only three days before his study of Auriculas, sold London, Sotheby's, 18 November 1985.