Circle of Gerard van Spaendonck, Dutch 1746-1822- Still life of flowers in an ornamental urn on a ledge; oil on canvas, 76.5 x 63.4 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, UK (by descent). Note: The present work is closely related to a canvas held at...

Circle of Gerard van Spaendonck, Dutch 1746-1822- Still life of flowers in an ornamental urn on a ledge; oil on canvas, 76.5 x 63.4 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, UK (by descent). Note: The present work is closely related to a canvas held at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire entitled 'Still Life with Flowers in an Urn and Two Parrots' (NT 515449), which has been attributed to Jakob Bogdani (1658-1724) or Philip Reinagle, RA (1749-1833). The quality of the brushwork in the present work, entirely evocative of the technique of van Spaendonck, is brilliantly displayed: the vase and marble ledge on which the flower arrangement rests effectively create a strong textural contrast with the soft petals and leaves.
The canvas is taut on the stretcher and sits well within the frame. Relined. The paint surface is stable on the support. Fine and settled craquelure in areas. Areas of minor paint separation/shrinkage, particularly in the central area of the bouquet. An area of paint loss (roughly 7 irregular spots) lower left, the largest approx. 2 cm. Two minor spots of further paint loss lower right. A minor and unobtrusive retouched loss upper left corner. An area of possible abrasion upper left, to the left of the irises. A cluster of very minor white marks upper centre. Very minor abrasions upper right corner and right edge. Minor marks, some surface dirt, and minor abrasions generally. Inspection under UV light reveals significant areas of retouching across the work, particularly upper centre and centrally, just below the upper roses (see images). Overall, in good retouched condition and ready to hang.