CIRCA 1817, IMPRESSED 816 AND P

Joseph Nigg (1782-1863) studied under Johann Drechsler at the Academy in Vienna, before becoming arguably the most accomplished flower painter ever to be employed at the Vienna porcelain manufactory. Active at the factory between 1799 and 1843, he become the head flower painter in 1816 and a tutor of flower painting from 1835. His compositions of flowers and fruits, often placed on a marble or stone ledge, were inspired by 17th century Dutch masters and are defined by their exuberance and botanical accuracy. Nigg also painted on vases and other forms at Vienna and continued to work in oil on canvas and in watercolours and pastels. However, it is on porcelain plaques that his talent as a painter is most evident, his style typifying the richness of the decorative arts of the Bidermeier period in Austria. The two plaques in the following lots, were painted when Nigg was at the height of his career at Vienna. A large porcelain plaque of flowers was presented by Nigg on behalf of the Viennese factory, at the Great Exhibition of 1851

In 1818 four superb pictures by Nigg (forming two pairs) were given by Francis I, Emperor of Austria (1768-1835), to George IV, when Prince Regent, as diplomatic gifts in the wake of the Napoleonic wars, and remain in the Royal Collection at Clarence House (RCIN 404323, 404324, 404325, 404326). Jutsham's Inventory records that the plaques were 'Received 22 Feb: 1818 From Prince Esterhazy the Austrian Ambassador'. The Prince Esterhazy referred to is Paul III Anton, Prince Esterházy (1786-1866), who was the Austrian ambassador to the Court of St. James. Given the key governmental positions held by Henry, 3rd Earl Bathurst during the Napoleonic wars including, from 1812, that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, it seems highly probable that the Bathurst plaques were also gifts from the grateful Emperor, delivered by his ambassador. The fact that the examples in the Royal Collection retain their original ormolu frames, of apparently identical design to those fitted to the Bathurst plaques, when considered alongside contemporary newspaper reports which detail Esterházy entertaining Bathurst at his country house, can only further strengthen the argument for them being Imperial Austrian gifts.

A similar plaque sold at Sotheby's, London, 15 July 2004, lot 105 for £252,000.

We are grateful to Terézia Bardi for her assistance with the research of this and the previous lot.