Pair of mid 18th Century Anglo-Dutch Portraits
£2,800
An unusual pair of mid 18th century Anglo-Dutch portraits of a gardener and a fruit-picker, the gardener standing by a table with an auricula and carnations in pots and smelling a carnation, the fruit-picker also standing at a table bearing the fruits of her labours, probably gathered from a hot-house, both standing in a grand garden with architectural hedges in the manner made popular by Queen Mary at Het Loo Palace, and much copied in England and Holland; Presented in original, carved and part sanded gilt frames
Auriculas were first recorded in England in Elizabethan times as rare plants cultivated by the elite but by the 18th century had become a widespread passion among horticulturists. The 18th century silkwork picture of an auricula (here illustrated) was recently sold at auction for £4,500.
In the 18th century peaches and grapevines were usually grown in hot-houses in Northern Europe and our fruit-picker mainly seems to have these, along with a melon or gourd. The estate where she works obviously has an orangery or hothouse as two orange trees are prominently displayed behind her, which would certainly have had to winter somewhere protected from the cold weather. The famous ‘Great Vine’ at Hampton Court was planted in 1768 by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, and is now contained in at least its fifth greenhouse, changed to accommodate its burgeoning size.
Bunny Mellon?
