Signed Knapp Jos in pencil lower left and numbered beneath each plant 1 and 2 and inscribed in pencil with the title 1 Narcissus tazetta/ 2 Figridia pavonia/ and Ferraria pavonia on the verso in pencil, watercolour and gum arabic, watermark Limpid
342 x 234 mm. (13 x 9 in.)
SOLD
Joseph Knapp studied at the Academy in Vienna and was a pupil of his father Johann Knapp (Vienna 1778-1833). Johann Knapp worked as a flower painter and watercolorist and Joseph worked for his father. The elder had also studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. After working for 3 years in a carpet factory, he became a student of the flower painter Johann Baptist Drechsler. There was recent exhibition that took place in 2006 and was titled Natur im Aquarell. Meisterwerke der Wiener Hofmaler Johann und Josef Knapp and a catalogue by Helga de Cuveland. Johans most famous painting is Homage to Jacquin, in the collection of The Belvedere, Vienna, and was in honor of the famous botanist Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin (1727-1817), celebrating his fourth anniversary of death. Jacquin was professor of botany and chemistry at the University of Vienna and was at the Botanical Garden as the director.
Narcissus is the botanic name for genus of mainly hardy, mostly spring flowering, bulbs in the Amaryllis family. Daffodil is a common English name sometimes used now for all varieties. The range of forms in cultivation has been heavily modified and extended, with new varieties available from specialists almost every year.
The Tiger Lily is a large orange flower that is covered with dark spots on its petals. The tiger lily can grow up to 3 inches across and has a strong, sweet scent. It is also called the ditch lily, as it can be seen growing, wild, and in ditches. The first written descriptions were by a famous Swedish botanist, Carl Von Linne, in 1753. However, in Chinese literature it was mentioned in writings of the 10th century, where it was planted in rows for food. William Kerr introduced the flower, from Canton, to Britain in 1804. By the mid-20th century, this plant had lost its usage, for the most part, as a food and became a favorite garden flower.
