John La Farge (American, 1835-1910) Quince Blossoms with Tree Trunk Unsigned, inscribed faintly "-D- 134/Mrs. HH Fuller-/will call" in pencil on the reverse. Oil on panel, 10 7/8 x 5 7/8 in., in a period frame. Condition: Good. Provenance: William Vareika Fine Arts, Ltd., Newport, Rhode Island; through to the estate of Richard Mellon Scaife, Pennsylvania. The proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit a Pennsylvania art institution. N.B. John La Farge's flower paintings have been described as the most beautiful and poetic ever produced by an American artist. The example at hand was reviewed in 1990 by Dr. James L. Yarnall, Director of La Farge Catalogue Raisonné, Inc. He noted that the unexpected perspective, unusual composition, and spindling floral form of a flowering Japanese quince branch were characteristic of "nature-in-nature" still lifes dating from 1871. The work was newly discovered at the time of his review, and no provenance or exhibition history was known. Dr. Yarnall noted that the still life is similar in feeling to La Farge's Flowers, Blue Iris with Trunk of Dead Apple Tree, also from the collection of Richard Mellon Scaife. A photocopy of Dr. Yarnall's typed notecard accompanies the lot. We would like to thank William Vareika, William Vareika Fine Arts, Ltd., Newport, Rhode Island, for his kind assistance cataloging this lot.