Oil on canvas, 74cm by 61cm. In a carved and gilded frame.
The painting is one of several by Monnoyer purchased by John, 5th Earl of Exeter (1648-1700).
The 1763 Burghley Inventory describes some of them as being in: ‘Queen Elizabeths room… four flower pieces by Baptest.’
Monnoyer, who was born in Lille, specialised in the painting of flower pieces and also worked closely with the tapestry workshops at both the Gobelins and Beauvais, creating cartoons of fruit and flowers for the weavers.
He worked in England from 1690, creating a great series of overdoors and overmantels for the Montagu family.
