Summer flowers in an urn, with butterflies

Samuel Astles was an accomplished painter of flowers and still life subjects at the Flight, Barr and Barr factory in Worcester from circa 1812-1840. He was a pupil of Thomas Baxter, one of the most important porcelain decorators of the period. He exhibited Flowers on China, after Van Huysum London, Royal Academy, 1827, no. 742. A comparable picture by the artist, albeit on porcelain, was sold at auction in 1987 for £20,000, an auction record for the artist.