Lot Essay
As Dr. Sam Segal has kindly pointed out, this is comparable to a drawing of a tulip with two shells and flowers of similar compositional arrangement, size and technique, also on vellum, inscribed 'Agata maurine' in the lower centre, which is in the Rijksprentenkabinet, Amsterdam, inv. no. A4295 (L.J. Bol, Bekoring van het kleine, undated, p. 16, no. 5, pl. 5) bearing a traditional attribution to Maria Sybilla Merian. Another comparable drawing, traditionally attributed to Herman Henstenburgh, is in the Groninger Museum voor Stad en Lande, inv. no. B462 (J. Bolten, Nederlandse en Vlaamse tekeningen uit de zeventiende en achttiende eeuw, Groningen, 1965, p. 17, no. 80, pl. 80). Dr. Segal now believes these sheets could be early drawings by the French miniaturist Nicolas Robert (1614-1685), whose drawings Merian is known to have copied in her early years.
Apart from tulips and tulip bulbs, which were very expensive in the 17th Century, unusual shells, mostly found outside northern Europe, became popular among collectors, and subsequently subject of a speculative trade. Like the tulips, they were also depicted in prints and drawings (see those by Bartholomeus Assteyn sold in these Rooms, 25 November 1992, lot 626), but only rarely were the two combined in one composition as in the present lot. Sam Segal points out that the first such arrangement known to him is that in a print by Pierre Vallet of 1603. The well-known album of tulip drawings by Jacob Marrell of 1637-40 in the Rijksprentenkabinet, Amsterdam is one of the other rare examples in which the combination may be seen.
The shells in the present lot may be compared to those illustrated in Georgius Everhardus Rumphius, D'Amboinsche Rariteitenkamer of eene beschryvinghe van allerhande Schaalvissen; Benevens de voornaamste Hoorntjes en Schulpen..., Amsterdam, 1741, II, pp. 81-2, 'XIV. Hooftdeel, Cassides Verrucosae; pimpeltjes', pl. XXIV
Apart from tulips and tulip bulbs, which were very expensive in the 17th Century, unusual shells, mostly found outside northern Europe, became popular among collectors, and subsequently subject of a speculative trade. Like the tulips, they were also depicted in prints and drawings (see those by Bartholomeus Assteyn sold in these Rooms, 25 November 1992, lot 626), but only rarely were the two combined in one composition as in the present lot. Sam Segal points out that the first such arrangement known to him is that in a print by Pierre Vallet of 1603. The well-known album of tulip drawings by Jacob Marrell of 1637-40 in the Rijksprentenkabinet, Amsterdam is one of the other rare examples in which the combination may be seen.
The shells in the present lot may be compared to those illustrated in Georgius Everhardus Rumphius, D'Amboinsche Rariteitenkamer of eene beschryvinghe van allerhande Schaalvissen; Benevens de voornaamste Hoorntjes en Schulpen..., Amsterdam, 1741, II, pp. 81-2, 'XIV. Hooftdeel, Cassides Verrucosae; pimpeltjes', pl. XXIV