During Charles II's reign still-lifes were hugely admired, the Dutch being particularly renowned for their virtuosic ability to create illusions of reality in paint. It was then that Pieter van Roestraten and Simon Verelst came to England to work. The former was recommended to Charles II by Peter Lely, although there is no record of any commission, whereas Verelst was hugely popular with the King and court, for whom he also executed portraits.