William Henry Hunt, Still Life of Lilac Blossom and a Bird's Nest, c. 1850 - 1855

Still Life of Lilac Blossom and a Bird's Nest

Private collection

Watercolor, bodycolor, and gum arabic

8 1/2 X 13 3/4 in., 21.5 X 35 cm

Signed, l.r., W. HUNT

 

Provenance:

Probably, the late John James (S) Christie's London, 17 May 1873, Lot 28 [Lilac and Bird's Nest, 9 X 13 in] (P) £225 10 s. Vokins;

(S) Sotheby's Belgravia, 6 Mar 1973, Lot 33 (P) £150*, F. Morris;

(S) Sotheby's Belgravia, 7 Feb 1978, Lot 36 (P) £240* by the present owner.

 

William Henry Hunt painted vey few watercolors which included lilac bllssoms. This was probably due to the fact that lilacs were delicate and wilted more quickly than other flowers, thereby forcing the artist to paint the blossoms very quickly -- Hunt would only paint objets which were physically in front of him throughout the time he worked on the subject he was painting.

Done