Peonies

c. 1869

Berthe Morisot

Painter, French, 1841 - 1895

Four flowers and greenery create a loose bouquet in a clear glass in this vertical still life, which is painted with visible brushstrokes throughout. The glass has a tall, narrow, rounded bowl on a flaring foot like a drinking glass. One fully open, light pink peony bloom bows over the edge of the glass to our left. A pink bud stands upright in the glass. Two other oblong flowers, perhaps closed tulips, angle to the left. One is smoky purple, and the other is cream-white edged with brick red. One pink petal lies on the tabletop, which is painted with broad strokes of ash and earth brown. Canvas is visible along the bottom edge and in the lower corners. The background behind the flowers is painted with dashes and long strokes.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    oil on canvas

  • Credit Line

    Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon

  • Dimensions

    overall: 40.8 x 33 cm (16 1/16 x 13 in.)
    framed: 46.7 x 38.4 x 2.5 cm (18 3/8 x 15 1/8 x 1 in.)

  • Accession

    1994.59.10

More About this Artwork

Video:  D.I.Y. Art: Paper Flowers Inspired by Berthe Morisot

Watch and learn how to make paper flowers inspired by Berthe Morisot's 1869 work, Peonies.


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Unknown before 1980, when it was discovered sharing the same stretcher as NGA 1985.64.28 (Berthe Morisot, Hanging the Laundry out to Dry), this painting was consequently unknown when Wildenstein published his catalogue raisonné of Morisot's work in 1961. Probably shared the de Bellio provenance with 1985.64.28; then (Paul Rosenberg and Co., London, New York and Paris); sold 1950 [with 1865.64.28] to Mr. Paul Mellon, Upperville, VA; gift 1994 to NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1987

  • Stuckey, Charles F., and William P. Scott. Berthe Morisot, Impressionist. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth; Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, 1987-1988: fig. 17.

Wikidata ID

Q20188723


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