Lot 200: Herman Henstenburgh Hoorn 1667 - 1726 , peacocks, a parrot and other fowl, watched by a spaniel, in a classical park landscape gouache and touches of gum arabic, within black ink framing lines, on vellum laid down on paper

signed and inscribed, lower left: H: Henstenbúrgh / fecit. gouache and touches of gum arabic, within black ink framing lines, on vellum laid down on paper

measurements note 345 by 258mm

Herman Henstenburgh was one of three notable still-life and natural history artists from Hoorn, who established that town as a centre for their very distinctive, highly detailed and decorative watercolour and gouache style. All three also, famously, followed parallel careers as pastry-bakers. The eldest of these artists was Johannes Bronckhorst (1648-1727), who was Herman Henstenburgh's teacher as both artist and baker. The trio was completed by Herman's son, Anton Henstenburgh (1695-1781). According to the near-contemporary chronicler, Johan van Gool, Henstenburgh started out by depicting birds and landscapes, and then broadened his repertoire after about 1695 to include flower and fruit pieces. Van Gool went on to explain the extraordinary richness of Henstenburgh's colours by claiming that the artist had invented a new type of watercolour. In the present work, this vivid palette is particularly apparent, thanks to the drawing's exceptionally good state of preservation.