A Columbine or Granny's Bonnet (Aquilegia), with Additional Studies of Flowers

mid-17th–late 17th century

Not on view

This representation of a pink columbine (genus acquilegia), with individual blooms of different colors in the lower part of the sheet, probably once belonged to an album commissioned by either a merchant or collector of flowers. The production of such albums formed a significant part of Holsteyn’s output. An intact example of 122 sheets bearing the artist’s monogram is in the Lindley Library of the Royal Horticultural Society. Another, comprising 42 images by Holsteyn of different cultivars of tulips, was sold in 2002 (Christie’s London April 11, 2002, lot 697). Various loose sheets are known; some of these could well have belonged to the same group as the present work (see, for example, the Greek Valerian sold at Christie’s London, December 6, 2012, lot 118, and two drawings—one representing three violets, the other a viola—sold at Sotheby’s New York, February 1, 2013, lot 614). All of these works exhibit Holsteyn’s fine brushwork, here especially evident in the subtle striations of the petals.

(JSS, 8/24/2018)

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: A Columbine or Granny's Bonnet (Aquilegia), with Additional Studies of Flowers
Artist: Pieter Holsteyn II (Dutch, Haarlem, ca. 1614–1673/83)
Date: mid-17th–late 17th century
Medium: Brush and gray ink, watercolor, gouache
Dimensions: Sheet: 12 3/4 × 8 1/4 in. (32.4 × 21 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Purchase, Daniel Ergmann Gift, 2014
Object Number: 2014.84
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Pieter Holsteyn II

In the same medium

From the same time and place

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Studies of a Blue Beetle and Insects, Pieter Holsteyn II Dutch, Gouache and watercolor — Studies of a Blue Beetle and Insects
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1650–60

A Great Grey Shrike, Pieter Holsteyn II Dutch, Watercolor and bodycolor — A Great Grey Shrike
Pieter Holsteyn II
mid-17th–late 17 century

Dune Landscape with Oak Tree, Jacob van Ruisdael Dutch, Black chalk, brush and gray wash, and gouache; framing lines in pen and brown ink — Dune Landscape with Oak Tree
Jacob van Ruisdael
1650–55

Reading the News at the Weavers' Cottage, Adriaen van Ostade Dutch, Pen and brown ink, watercolor, white heightening, over traces of graphite; framing lines by the artist (?) in pen and brown ink and gold — Reading the News at the Weavers' Cottage
Adriaen van Ostade
1673

Lindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, Northumberland, Thomas Girtin British, Watercolor and bodycolor (gouache) — Lindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, Northumberland
Thomas Girtin
1796–97

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