JOHANN WILHELM PREYER (GERMAN 1803-1889)STILL LIFE WITH GRAPES, PEACHES, APRICOT, HAZLENUTS, A CHAMPAGNE FLUTE AND A FLY ON A DRAPED LEDGEOil on canvasSigned and dated 1865 (lower right)36.5 x 33cm (14¼ x 12 in.)Preyer studied art at the Düsseldorf Art Academy with Peter von Cornelius and Wilhelm von Schadow and would become one of the earliest of the group now known as the Düsseldorf school of painting. Between 1835 and 1843 he continued his studies travelling through the Netherlands, Munich, Northern Italy, Switzerland and Tirol. Inspired by the work of Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750) and the tradition of other seventeenth century still life painters such as Kalf, Claesz. and Heda, he turned to the minute and carefully detailed painting of flowers and fruit. Today he is considered to be one of best artists of the genre in the 19th century and his works are widely collected from Germany to the United States.