Arnoud Wydeveld

David David, Inc., Philadelphia

Mrs. George Arden, New York

Christie's, New York, May 22, 1991, lot 34 (consigned by the above)

Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

New York, ACA Galleries,  American Flower Paintings, 1850-1950, 1978 (titled Chrysanthemums)

Executed shortly after his emigration from the Netherlands to the United States, Still Life with Peonies, Hydrangea and Irises reflects Arnoud Wydeveld’s command of the still-life tradition and his ability to adapt European models to an American context. Active in New York between 1855 and 1862, where the present work was executed, Wydeveld was particularly admired for floral compositions that combined careful observation with a restrained, classical sense of order.

The present work belongs to this productive period and exemplifies the clarity and balance for which he is best known.

The bouquet is arranged with deliberation rather than abundance. A pale pink peony anchors the composition at center while rounded white hydrangea blossoms, darker irises and deep red flowers surround it. The neutral background further isolates the arrangement, emphasizing form, color, and surface.

Of particular interest is the porcelain vase holding the flowers, decorated with flowers, butterflies and a painted motif that itself depicts another vase, creating a subtle visual recursion. This detail underscores Wydeveld’s interest in artifice and representation, while also demonstrating his technical facility in rendering varied materials—glossy ceramic, soft petals, and polished stone—within a single, unified composition.