Ludwig Pfleger, German 1720-1793- Studies of the trunk, leaves, and pinecones of a tree; black chalk and watercolour on paper, titled 'Forll' (lower centre), 49.4 x 32.8 cm. Exhibited: London, Hazlitt, Gooden & Fox, Ludwig Pfleger, 10 March-6 April 1977, no.7. Note: Ludwig Pfleger specialised in still-life scenes and studies after nature. Very little is known about his education and early career. His father, Franz Pfleger, was employed by Countess of Baden-Baden Sybilla Augusta as artistic director of Schloss Favorite at Rastatt and in this capacity designed, amongst others, the gardens of the pleasure palace. This may have been the horticultural work which inspired his young son Franz to pursue nature as an artistic subject. The detailed studies of wood species and their various identifying characteristics (bark, grain, leaves, blossom and seeds) date from later in his career, and relate to the uing encyclopaedic efforts to chart and reproduce native and foreign wood species. Indeed the present work likes dates to around 1788. Such illustrations formed important sources for cabinetmakers and their clients to identify and choose specific wood types for marquetry and pieces of furniture. See the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York for four further similar examples [nos 2009.379-382].Please refer to department for condition report