Georgius Jacobus Johannes van Os

With M. Wolff, Amsterdam;
From whom acquired by a private collector, The Netherlands, 1920s; 
By whose descendants sold ('Property of a Dutch Family'), Amsterdam, Christie's, 25 October 2005, lot 201;
With Richard Green, London;
From whom acquired by the present owner.

F.M. Huebner, De Romantische Schilderkunst in de Nederlanden 1780–1840, The Hague, 1942, reproduced fig. 73.

The canvas has been relined. There is a pattern of faint hairline craquelure which appears to be entirely stable and is not particularly distracting. Ultra-violet light reveals only very minor signs of scattered cosmetic retouching, notably tiny spots in the background around the flowers at the top of the still life, in the small crimson flower to the right of centre, and very thin strokes addressing craquelure near the lower edge. This painting is in good condition and ready to hang. The colours are somewhat richer overall in reality than in the catalogue illustration. Presented in a substantial coved and fluted gilt frame.
"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."

Painted in 1837, this is a masterpiece by the leading Dutch still-life painter of his time. The son and pupil of Jan van Os (1744–1808), Georgius established a reputation surpassing that of his famous father. Having first visited Paris in 1812, he soon worked variously in The Hague, Amsterdam and Paris. He worked both independently as a flower and still life painter of great repute, as well as being an employee of the Sèvres porcelain factory.

Van Os excelled at rendering elegant flower compositions, which were showpieces of his great craftsmanship, as well as records of contemporary plant-hunting activities and displays of precious and exotic horticultural novelties. 

The bouquet depicted in the present work features phacelia (only introduced to Europe from California in 1836), slipper flowers (first imported from Chilli and Peru in 1823), Mahonia (North America, 1820) and sun cactus (Central Mexico, 1815). While flowers such as peonies, tulips and African marigolds, and shrubs such as rhododendron and tea-tree, were known in the Netherlands since the eighteenth century, their blooms were nevertheless highly coveted, luxurious items at the time.