Lot 2106 Dα

Pieter Casteels was born into an established family of painters in Amsterdam. He moved to England in 1708, and there he soon made a name for himself in the London art world. After a short stay in Antwerp, he settled in London for good in 1717. James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby, was among his most important patrons there. Since Castells spent most of his life in England, the majority of his works can now be found in British private collections and museums. The present work is one of his later, highly popular works featuring animals, birds, and a sumptuous floral still life, which was often placed before a landscape background. The present work, dated 1729, is a fine example of this latter type. Painted during the artist's mature phase, the work's expansive format and decorative composition place it among the characteristic works of his œuvre.