Roses, poppies, chrysanthamums, apple blossom, and other summer flowers in a glass vase with a butterfly

Verelst was the leading flower painter of his generation active in England, where he settled in 1669, when in his mid-twenties. In the same year as Verelst's arrival in London, Samuel Pepys noted in his diary that on 11 April 'one Everest [sic] ... took us to his lodging nearby and did show us a little flowerpot of his drawing, the finest thing, I ever, I think, saw in my life ...' According to George Vertue, Verelst was encouraged to take up portrait painting by George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, and he was soon receiving commissions from the Court. Success was temporarily to unhinge the artist, however, who, Vertue recorded, 'grew very proud and conceited' and at some point was confined for insanity. Few of his still lifes are signed and even fewer dated.