Lot 68: NICOLA VAN HOUBRAKEN MESSINA CIRCA 1660 - 1723 TUSCANY STILL LIFE WITH POTTED PLANTS AND ROSES, A

NICOLA VAN HOUBRAKEN MESSINA CIRCA 1660 - 1723 TUSCANY STILL LIFE WITH POTTED PLANTS AND ROSES, A DOG, A BASKET OF APPLES, FENNEL, AND A SEMI-PLUCKED ROOSTER, A BREAD ROLL ON A PLATE AND A WINE-GLASS

oil on canvas

CATALOGUE NOTE

We are grateful to Dott. Mario Goli Sassoli for endorsing the attribution to Van Houbraken on the basis of a colour transparency. Dott. Goli Sassoli has pointed out this painting's similarity in composition to a painting by Van Houbraken (130 by 172 cm.) in the Museo Civico, Livorno. Although the composition here is fuller and enlarged, the paintings share a number of common elements; the red-leaved potted plant, lilies, and cardoons among them. A parrot in the Livorno painting has here been substituted with a wine-glass and bread-roll on a plate, and Van Houbraken has also added other still life elements such as the rose plant centre right, the dog and the basket of apples.

147.5 by 196.8 cm.; 58 by 77 1/2 in.