Adolf Senff

From present-day Germany, Carl Adolf Senff travelled throughout Europe in the first quarter of the 19th century until settling in Rome for close to three decades beginning in 1816. During this period, he became known for his copies of paintings by Raphael, which allowed him to earn a decent living as an artist. However, he expanded to floral still lifes, landscapes and portraits by the end of his stay.

This is a lovely example of the artist's skill and illustrates how his surroundings served as inspiration for his compositions. Senff took great care in the detail of the vessel holding the bouquet, not just the flowers themselves. The vase, an Athenian red-figure amphora, adds another layer of complexity given the execution of Apollo (right) and a maenad (left).