Porcelain tray

A celebrated Viennese flower painter, Josef Nigg studied under Johan Drechsler at the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Vienna. Primarily a flower and fruit painter, Nigg was best known for his highly detailed still lifes on porcelain. Between 1800 and 1848 he became one of the foremost decorators at the Vienna porcelain factory, and his delicate paintings are considered some of the finest examples of the Austrian style. Examples of his superb work can be found in some of the best museums in the world, including the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Known for his luxurious still lifes, Nigg paid close attention to every minute detail of the composition from bloomy roses to dewy peaches...

© Benezit, Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs Vol 10, p. 220; Thieme/Becker, Allgemeines Lexicon der bilden Künstler, Vol. 25/26, p. 473.