Jan van Huysum

Stuck around all sides to a rice paper support, drummed. Small hole in leaf bottom right by yellow poppy. Some slight paint losses in yellow poppies. Some discolouration around edges,and grey spots at upper left edge
"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."

This particularly fine and delicate watercolour is unusual among van Huysum's works both in its technique and composition and must have been intended for a specific purpose.  Sam Segal has suggested that it is probably an early work, dating from between 1700 and 1705, and that it shows some influence from van Huysum's predecessors, Maria Sibylla Merian and Johannes Bronckhorst.  Also indicative of that date is the selection of flowers itself: the Garden Nasturtium was introduced to Holland in the 1690s, while the blue and white Lupin, the Scarlet Runner Bean and the small red Pheasant's Eye, as well as the Small Morning Glory, are all types which appear in van Huysum's early works.  Dr. Segal compares the signature and selection of flowers with those in a chimney piece of 1706, now in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille.¹

The drawing is sold with a signed certificate of authenticity from Dr. Sam Segal.

1. See The Temptations of Flora, exhib. cat., Delft, Museum Het Prinsenhof, et al., 2006-7, reproduced p. 52, no. 5.4