Still-life of peonies and irises in a Chinese vase

細節

Maria Spartali Stillman (1844-1927)
Still-life of peonies and irises in a Chinese vase
signed with initials, inscribed and dated 'MS to BM 1921' (lower right)
pencil and watercolour with gum arabic heightened with bodycolour, unframed
20¾ x 14 in. (52.5 x 35.5 cm.)

注意事項

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

拍場告示

Please note that Bella Stillman was William Stillman's daughter by Laura Mack and was therefore the artist's step-daughter. We are grateful to David Elliott for this information.

拍品專文

The inscription 'MS to BM 1921' can almost certainly be read as 'Marie Stillman to Bella Middleton'. Bella Middleton (née Stillman), the artist's sister-in-law, was married to John Henry Middleton, son of the architect John Middleton and director of both the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge and the South Kensington Museum.