Yellow and White Lilies, Willem van Leen, c. 1780

brush, h 215mm × w 138mm More details

At the age of twenty Willem van Leen moved to Paris, where he lived for three years. There, he frequently drew the – often exotic – blooms in the Jardin des Plantes. Upon his return he specialised in flower painting, and became an art dealer. Van Leen made studies of flowers – like these lilies, which were sent to him – into old age. He used them to compose his painted still lifes.