A red velvet flower, passion flowers, red and white grapes, plums, peaches, white berries, a cantaloupe, a hare, a partridge and other game, all on a marble ledge, a view of a park landscape beyond

Very little is known about the Dordrecht born painter Joris Ponse, who was a student of Aert Schouman. After his schooling, he mainly painted decorative works specializing in wall-decorations and decorating carriages with birds, flowers and fruit. The careful depicting of textures, such as the feathers of birds and the fur of the hare, is typical for Ponse. He was a much sought after teacher, who schooled Abraham van Strij amongst others.

A similar work was sold at Bonhams, London, 29 September 2003, lot 100 (£23,265) which is now in the Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht. The present painting adds a new masterpiece to the small surviving oeuvre of this Dordrecht master.

We are grateful to Fred Meijer of the RKD, The Hague, for suggesting the attribution to Joris Ponse on the basis of photographs (written communication, 25 March 2013).