Lot 188: Hendrik Reekers (Dutch, 1815-1854)

A still life with roses, hollyhocks and other flowers in a glass vase and fruit on a tazza on a marble ledge signed and dated 'H Reekers.1850.' (lower left) oil on panel 99 x 75.5 cm. PROVENANCE Wurfbain; Sale, Veilinghuis Roos Amsterdam, 4 April 1916, lot 17, ill. Anon. Sale, Sotheby's London, 14 November 1973, lot 156. Kunsthandel Pieter A. Scheen B.V., The Hague, 1974. LITERATURE Pieter A. Scheen, Lexicon Nederlandse Beeldende Kunstenaars 1750-1880, The Hague 1981, ill. 59. NOTES In the early 1840's Reekers started to paint still lifes on larger sized panels and canvasses. He dared to take this step encouraged by the enthousiastic reactions from collectors and art dealers on his work. A turning point in his career was the introduction to the keeper of the collection of King Willem II by the artdealer Weimar. The keeper encouraged him to paint a large still life comparable to a work by G.J.J. van Os in the royal collection. As from then Reekers no longer fully dedicated himself to small pictures, but also displayed his skills on larger formats. The present lot is an excellent example of this mature, confident style.