Anon. A Vase of Lilac Flowers
An original 1910s oil painting A Vase of Lilac Flowers.
A beautiful botanical still life oil painting dating from around the 1910s. The simplicity of the subject is evocative of William Nicholson's contemporaneous still lifes. A modest vase of singular lilacs sits on a plain surface, and yet the flowers, given centre-stage, are nevertheless exuberant—form emerging from a riot of marks in myriad purple-pinks.
The canvas dates the painting to around the first decade of the 20th century. The back is stamped WINSOR & NEWTON’S / BEST ARTISTS’ CANVAS / RATHBONE PLACE. / LONDON, W.
An indistinct signature is scratched into the paint at the upper left, possibly Charles O Nash.
The overall aesthetic of the minimalist composition along with its original aged wooden frame is one of wabi sabi—the Japanese philosophy of appreciating the beauty to be found in the impermanent and imperfect. The patina of the frame not only harmonises beautifully with the colours within the painting, but also embodies the passage of time symbolised by the transient lilac blooms. In Victorian symbolism the lilac flower was often used to represent memory and communicate the message 'Remember me'—a theme aptly embodied by the painting's patina.
Dimensions: Height: 30cm (11.81") Width: 40cm (15.75")
Presented: In a wooden frame with painted gilt slip (42 x 52cm).
Medium: Oil
Age: Early 20th-century
Signed: Signed upper left.
Inscribed: No.
Dated: --
Condition: The painting and frame have a lovely overall antiqued patina. Some age toning across the canvas. Some small scattered paint losses towards the lower edge and vase area. Small white paint mark to the left of the vase. Discolouration to the gilt paint on the frame and slip, with further light wear to the frame surface and edges. On the back of the frame a historic label has worn away. Please see photos for detail.
Stock number: JX-321
