Agneta Block Botanical Mayhem Frontispiece

an elaborate watercolor frontispiece for a 17th century collection of botanical illustrations has an oval medallion shaped frame covered all over with elaborate foliage, flowers, vines, etc., basically symmetrical along a vertical axis. at the top the frame is set with a medallion of agneta block in profile. at the bottom is blocks' family oval crest which involves some swans and what look like three red destroyers on a black field. in the empty center of the frame is inscribed in florid dutch calligraphy, nice images of exotic plants and flowers, reviewed? checked? by agneta block. from arader galleries in philadelphia
Albert van Spiers watercolor frontispiece for Agneta Block, 17¼ x 12 5/8 in. when it was sold at Christie’s in 2004, but since it’s been mounted, it’s 19 x 13 1/2 in. at Arader Galleries

Speaking of pioneering 17th century Dutch naturalist and pineapple cultivator Agneta Block, this extraordinary watercolor with Block’s family crest and her medallion portrait was a painted for her by Albert van Spiers.

Based on the inscription, it’s thought to be the frontispiece for a collection of botanical illustrations Block commissioned from Johanna Helena Heroldt, who was the daughter of another botanical illustrator Block supported, Maria Sibylla Merian. At least 126 illustrations by Heroldt in three groups could be connected to the project for Block, who had one of the largest collections of exotic and rare flowers and plants in Europe.

Albert van Spiers, called Pirameid, design for floral frontispiece for Agneta Block, Arader Galleries [aradergalleries.com via Cynthia Kok/JHI Blog]