Ambrosius Bosschaert the Younger (Middelburg 1609-1645 Utrecht) Tulips, roses, lily of the valley and other flowers in a glass vase on a stone ledge oil on copper 35.6 x 23.3cm (14 x 9 3/16in). Footnotes: Provenance With Kunsthandel P. de Boer, Amsterdam, 1950 Dr. Fred Meijer discusses the present work in a report from 9 August 2019 in which he dates it to 1633 or 1634. In his 1960 book, The Bosschaert Dynasty Laurens Bol illustrated a somewhat similar composition dated 1632, formerly in The Hague Gemeentemuseum. Another example from 1632 also includes two bluebottles on the ledge, but both these arrangements are somewhat compact and sit tighter in the picture plane than the present composition. In the following year, 1633, Bosschaert seems to have allowed more space around his bouquets and made them less compact, as dated examples from that year indicate. An example dated 1635 is composed similarly and includes the same two flies on the table. The comparisons suggest that the present work was executed in 1633 or 1634. An undated still life of flowers and fruit, which will also have originated in or around 1633, judging from stylistic features, includes several flowers that are also included in the present bouquet. An interesting feature of all of these examples is the shadow of the vase, which has a focused spot of light in the centre. Laurens Bol remarked that Ambrosius Bosschaert the Younger might be nicknamed 'The Master of the Bluebottle', since the great majority of his still lifes show a bluebottle in a characteristic pose: tilted forward, licking the surface on which it sits, just like the one on the left on the ledge in the present painting. Still lifes of flowers in a glass vase on a ledge or table top made up Ambrosius Bosschaert the Younger's 'core business.' Their inspiration goes back to examples by his father and by Jan Brueghel the Younger in the first decade of the century. While the presence of the bluebottles may have had vanitas connotations (hinting at decay) and the caterpillar (which becomes a butterfly) may have evoked association with the Resurrection, it is probably inappropriate to read too much profound meaning into a bouquet such as this. Essentially such a work of art allowed the viewer to enjoy fresh flowers all year round, as a feast for the eyes. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com