A beautiful 19th-century still life depicting a group of wild flowers emerging from the forest floor by Swedish artist, Johan Fredrik Damm (1820-1894).
This charming little piece is exquisitely rendered and more akin to a botanical study than a traditional still life. Note how Damm has handled the lifelike surfaces of the leaves - with such skill and accuracy.
Johan Fredrik Damm was a master of flower painting and he excelled at leafy compositions that celebrated nature’s vibrancy. He was influenced by his teacher, Otto Didrik Ottesen (1816-1892), who was also a specialist.
During participated in several important exhibitions and is, today, represented at the Gothenburg Art Museum.
The painting is signed/dated and housed within a gilt frame. Inscribed on the reverse.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 16½” x 13½” / 52cm x 34cm
Year of creation: 1873
Provenance: Denmark
Condition: Craquelure but the paint is stable. One minor loss. Frame with some light age-related wear.
Artist’s auction highlight: £7,109 achieved for a still life at an auction in 1990.