˜A FRENCH GOLD-MOUNTED TORTOISESHELL BOX AND COVER WITH MINIATURE BY GERARD VAN SPAENDONCK (1746-1822), PARIS, CIRCA 1800 circular, with a painted inset of a bowl of lavish summer flowers signed to right table edge 'G. v Spaen...', plain gold mounts unmarked 8.2cm diameter Provenance: The Hoffenreich Collection of Snuff Boxes, Vienna Gérard (or Gerardus) van Spaendonck is famed for his flower painting, in miniature, larger scale and botanical formats. He was born in Tilburg and studied in Antwerp, moving to Paris in 1769. Appointed miniaturist to Louis XVI in 1774, his floral miniatures set into snuff boxes became hugely sought after. In 1780 he became Professor of Floral Painting at the Jardin des Plantes. Post-revolution he was one of the first members of the Academy of Fine Arts, was awarded the Légion d'honneur in 1804 and the following year was ennobled by Napoleon.