Lot 217: Hendrik Reekers (Dutch, 1815-1854)

An exuberant still life with flowers
signed and dated 'H:Reekers.1840.' (lower right)
oil on panel
44 x 35 cm.

Norbert Hostyn/Willem Rappard, Dictionaire van Belgische en Hollandse Bloemenschilders geboren tussen 1750 en 1880, Brussels 1995 (Patrick and Viviane Berko), p. 315, ill.

Anonymous Sale, Mak, Dordrecht, 13-16 December 1983, lot 186.
Anonymous Sale, Christie's, London, 22 June 1984, lot 259, as: Still life of peonies and other flowers.
Richard Green Fine Arts, London, year unknown.
Private Collection, U.S.A.
Giessenburg, Kunsthandel Pieter Overduin, 1992, where acquired by the present owner.

Hendrik Reekers was already a highly acclaimed painter in his own time. He has a relatively small oeuvre as he died at the young age of thirty-eight. This pupil of the famous Gregorius Jacobus Johannes van Os (1782-1861) and his father Johannes Reekers (1790-1858) produced paintings which are in the collections of, amongst others, The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (inv.nr. A1704), Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam (inv.nr. 1715) and Musée J.-P. Pescatore, Luxemburg (inv.nr. 260).

The minute detail of each flower reveals the passionate relationship he had with his subject matter. The careful arrangement of flowers is a well orchestrated symphony of colour. Reekers proves himself, not only a gifted artist, but also as an inspired botanist who took great interest in the origin and significance of each individual flower.

In other flower pieces by the artist from the same period, we can determine similar flower species such as: Ageratum (1), Furnitory (3), Astrantia (13), Persian Ranunculus (15), Bishop Rose (16), African Marigold (17) and Lobelia (19). It is noteworthy that the Yellow-wort (6) cannot be found in any other known painting by the artist.

1. Ageratum (Ageratum)
Ageratum houstonianum mill
(Mexico)

2. Slipperwort (Pantoffelbloem)
Calceolaria
(Peru)

3. Furnitory (Helmbloem)
Corydalis solida (L.)
(Europe)

4. Poppy Anemone (Tuinanemoon)
Anemone coronaria (L.) pseudoplena albopurpurescens
(Middle east)

5. Snow-in-Summer (Hoornbloem)
Ceratium tomentosum (L.)
(Southern Europe)

6. Yellow-wort (Bitterling)
Blackstonia perfoliata (L.)
(Europe)

7. Hyacinth (Hyacint)
Hyacinthus orientalis (L.) plenus violescens
(Middle east)

8. Hyacinth (Hyacint)
Hyacinthus orientalis (L.) plenus azures
(Middle East)

9. Catchfly (Hemelroosje)
Silene coeli-rosa (L.)
(West Mediterranean)

10. Dill (Dille)
Anethum graveolens (L.)
(South-east Asia)

11. Apple blossom (Appelbloesem)
Malus sylvestris Mill.
(Cultured)

12. Poppy Anemone (Tuinanemoon)
Anemone coronaria (L.) pseudoplena rubra
(Middle East)

13. Astrantia (Astrantia)
Astrantia Major (L.)
(Central and Eastern Europe)

14. Persian Ranunculus (Ranonkel)
Ranunculus asiaticus (L.) plenus atroviolaceus
(Middle East)

15. Persian Ranunculus (Ranonkel)
Ranunculus asiaticus (L.) plenus atroumbrinus
(Middle East)

16 Bishop Rose (Bisschopsroos)
Rosa gallica (L.) plena violacea
(Europe and Cultured)

17. African Marigold (Kleine afrikaan)
Tagetes patula (L.)
(Mexico)

18. Meadow Rue (Akeleikruid)
Thalictrum aquilegifolium (L.)
(Europe)

19. Lobelia (Lobelia)
Lobelia erinus (L.)
(South Africa)

We would like to thank Dr. Sam Segal for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.

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