Carnations, roses, jasmine, a tulip and other flowers in a sculpted bronze urn, with butterflies, dragonflies, a caterpillar, a beetle and a bee, on a ledge in a niche

As one of the earliest known examples of his work, the present picture demonstrates Drechsler’s virtuosity as both a founding figure and leading exponent of the Viennese school of flower painting. With strong, bright colours and a softer finish on the panel, his distinctive palette distinguishes him from his Dutch and Flemish contemporaries through a controlled and naturalistic style, while his floral movements form strong Baroque diagonals more typical of the later 18th century.