Provenance
Thomas McLean, London [based on sticker on reverse; McLean, London art dealer, dissolved his partnership in 1902]. Bignou Gallery, Paris [based on Bignou's stamp on reverse]. Lieutenant Colonel James W. Woods (died 1931), Ottawa. Wildenstein and Co., New York; sold to the Art Institute, 1964 with funds provided by Mrs. Clive Runnells (died 1977), who maintained a partial life interest in the picture.
Accession Number
20534
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
26.2 × 31.4 cm (10 5/16 × 12 3/8 in.)
Classification
oil on canvas
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Clive Runnells
Background & Context
Background Story
Henri Fantin-Latour's Roses in a Bowl (1881) is an oil on canvas that showcases the artist's extraordinary ability to capture the beauty of roses. Fantin-Latour was the most celebrated flower painter of 19th-century France, and his rose paintings are among the most sought-after works in his oeuvre. This painting shows a bowl of roses in full bloom, the flowers rendered with a combination of precise observation and painterly freedom. The petals are built up through layers of translucent color that capture their softness and luminosity. The palette ranges from the palest pinks to deep, rich reds, with the greens of the leaves providing contrast. The composition is carefully balanced, the bouquet arranged to create a harmonious whole. This painting dates from 1881, when Fantin-Latour was at the height of his powers and his flower paintings were in high demand among collectors.
Cultural Impact
Fantin-Latour's rose paintings are among the finest flower studies in Western art, combining the precision of botanical illustration with the freedom of painterly expression.
Why It Matters
This bowl of roses captures the lush beauty of the flowers at the peak of their bloom, Fantin-Latour's luminous colors and precise observation creating an image of natural beauty that seems to transcend time.
