Floral Revelations: Botanical Art by Women Artists (1830-1960)

Anna S. Fisher Nasturtium in a Vase

Anna S. Fisher (1873-1942) Nasturtium in a Vase Oil on canvas 25 x 30 inches Signed lower right

(New York, NY) Hawthorne Fine Art is pleased to present Floral Revelations: Botanical Works by Women Artists 1830-1960, an online exhibition and sale, on view March 20, 2023 - June 18, 2023. The exhibition which coincides with the arrival of spring features figurative works, artfully arranged bouquets and garden scenes. Comprised of twenty paintings in oil, watercolor and pastel by eighteen artists, the exhibition explores the relationship between women artists and floral subject matter. A full color catalogue will be available for download.

Among the work to be shown is Harmony in Yellow an oil painting by Anna Lee Stacey (1865–1943). Exhibited in 1910 at the Art Institute of Chicago, the figurative work captures a young woman in yellow standing before a landscape. She holds in her arms a bundle of freshly picked flowers which act as an extension of her beauty and femininity. Likewise, in Portrait of a Woman by Pearl L. Hill Worthington (1884-1949), a woman holds a single bloom in quiet contemplation beside a field of flowers.

In the Conservatory by Martha J. Shaw (Late 19th C.) depicts a woman watering plants in an interior. The painting suggests the domestic role of women as well as the popular and accepted pastime of gardening. The Rose Terrace by Anna E. Hardy (1839-1934) captures the flourishing garden and flower edged path of the artist’s family home in Bangor, Maine. The daughter of artist Jeremiah Pearson Hardy, Anna was a respected still life painter whose flower paintings were reproduced as lithographs by Louis Prang.

New York native Artist Anna S. Fisher (1873-1942) is represented with a half a dozen floral still lifes including Nasturtium in a Vase. The large-scale oil painting features a transparent glass vase overflowing with greenery and bold red and orange blooms. A student of Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, Fisher went on to become a much respected and beloved instructor of watercolor at the institute during her four-decade tenure.

The Pepper Tree, an oil painting by Ellen Frances Burpee Farr (1840-1907) depicts the verdant weeping leaves and red berries of this West Coast evergreen. Pepper Trees were a favorite subject of artist who specialized in California flora such as rose and eucalyptus blossoms and pepper trees.

Minerva Josephine Chapman’s (1858-1947) Lilacs depicts the fragrant flowers in a blue vase against a heavily shadowed background. A New York native, Chapman spent most of her professional life in Paris where she had a studio in the artists’ quarter. In 1897, the artist exhibited two of her still lifes at the Paris Salon.

Alice Lolita Muth’s (1887-1952) Still-life of Oeillets and Figurine is a boldly colored work featuring flowers in red and pink against a warm yellow background. A figurine from Muth’s travels is included in the composition. Still Life with Tulips by American Impressionist Martha Walter (1875–1976) is a similarly lively work. Tulips in red and yellow appear in contrast with the mottled gray background. The yellow of the tulips is repeated in a pattern on the blue vase as well as the patterned tablecloth.

The Garden Path is one of several works featuring Mary Lane McMillan's (1883-1976) vibrant lakeside garden. McMillan and her husband established The McMillan School of Fine Art and offered summer classes at their residence in Belgrade lakes, Maine during the 1920's and 30's.

Also included are works by Emma L. Bartlett (19th Century), Carrie Clark (19th Century), Helen M. Goodwin (1865-1955), Emma Collin Sears Marsh (1871-1960), Rhoda Holmes Nicholls (1854-1930), Ellen Robbins (1828-1905), Mary Herrick Ross (1856-1935), and Mary Motz Wills (1875-1961).

About Hawthorne Fine Art:

Hawthorne Fine Art is a Manhattan based fine art gallery specializing in 19th and early 20th century American painting. To access the Floral Revelations catalogue, please visit our website and click to download a digital copy: https://hawthornefineart.com/catalogues.

Emma L. Bartlett Irises

Emma L. Bartlett (19th Century) Irises Oil on canvas 14 x 7 1/8 inches Inscription on stretcher: ‘By Emma L. Bartlett – my great grandmother – C.R. Cristian’

Carrie Clark  Floral Still Life with Butterfly

Carrie Clark (19th Century) Floral Still Life with Butterfly Oil on canvas 24 x 20 inches Signed and dated 1885 at Lower right

Minerva Josephine Chapman

MINERVA JOSEPHINE CHAPMAN (1858-1947) Lilacs Oil on canvas 16 x 12 ½ inches Signed lower right Inscribed “Étude Fleurs”

Ellen Frances Burpee Farr The Pepper Tree

Ellen Frances Burpee Farr (1840 - 1907) The Pepper Tree Oil on board 11 x 6 ¾ inches Signed lower right

Anna S. Fisher White Roses in a Vase

Anna S. Fisher (1873-1942) White Roses in a Vase Oil on canvas 16 x 12 inches Signed lower left

Anna S. Fisher Nasturtium in a Vase

Anna S. Fisher (1873-1942) Nasturtium in a Vase Oil on canvas 25 x 30 inches Signed lower right

Anna S. Fisher Branch of Azaleas

Anna S. Fisher (1873-1942) Branch of Azaleas Watercolor on paper 14 x 11 inches Signed lower right

Anna S. Fisher Roses in a Vase

Anna S. Fisher (1873-1942) Roses in a Vase Oil on canvas 17 1/4 x 13 inches Signed lower left

Helen M. Goodwin Zinnias

Helen M. Goodwin (1865-1955) Zinnias Oil on canvas board 13 ¾ x 18 inches Signed lower right Original Indiana Artists Exhibition label on backing

Anna E. Hardy The Rose Terrace

Anna E. Hardy (1839-1934) The Rose Terrace Oil on canvas 17 ½ x 14 1/4 inches Signed lower right

Mary Nicholena MacCord Vase of Flowers

Mary Nicholena MacCord (1864-1955) Vase of Flowers Oil on canvas 20 x 24 inches Signed lower right

Mary Lane McMillan The Garden Path

Mary Lane McMillan (1883-1976) The Garden Path Watercolor on paper 16 x 11 inches Signed lower right

Mary Lane McMillan Flowers by the Stairwell, Maine

Mary Lane McMillan (1883-1976) Flowers by the Stairwell, Maine Watercolor on paper 14 x 10 1/2 inches Estate stamp verso

Mary Lane McMillan By the Lake in Maine unframed

Mary Lane McMillan (1883-1976) By the Lake In Maine Watercolor and pencil on paper 17 7/8 x 12 inches Estate stamp verso

Mary Lane McMillan In the Garden unframed

Mary Lane McMillan (1883-1976) In the Garden Watercolor on paper 17 x 9 3/4 inches Estate stamp verso

Mary Lane McMillan Study 'Dainty Beso' Rose, 1967 unframed

Mary Lane McMillan (1883-1976) Study ‘Dainty Beso’ Rose, 1967 Pastel on paper 12 x 18 inches Signed and dated lower right, titled lower center

Mary Lane McMillan Rose Study, c. 1965 unframed

Mary Lane McMillan (1883-1976) Rose Study, c. 1965 Pastel on paper 7 x 8 inches Signed upper right and verso

Mary Lane McMillan Coleus Sketch, c. 1951 unframed

Mary Lane McMillan (1883-1976) Coleus Sketch, c. 1951 Watercolor and pencil on paper 11 1/4 x 8 5/8 inches Signed on verso

Alice Lolita Muth Still-life of Oeillets and Figurine

Alice Lolita Muth (1887-1952) Still-life of Oeillets and Figurine Oil on canvas 31 3/8 x 29 3/8 inches Signed lower right

Rhoda Holmes Nicholls Still Life with Yellow Roses

Rhoda Holmes Nicholls (1854-1930) Still Life with Yellow Roses Watercolor on paper 7 ½ x 13 ¾ inches (sight) Signed Rhoda Holmes Nicholls at lower left

Ellen Robbins Still-life of Flowers, Fern and Berries

Ellen Robbins (1828-1905) Still-life of Flowers, Fern and Berries Watercolor on paper 15 ½ x 10 inches Signed lower center

Mary Herrick Ross Tabletop Still Life of Roses

Mary Herrick Ross (1856-1935) Tabletop Still Life of Roses Oil on canvas mounted on board 9 x 9 inches (sight) Signed lower right

Martha J. Shaw In the Conservatory

Martha J. Shaw (Late 19th C.) In the Conservatory Oil on canvas 13 1/2 x 18 ¾ inches Signed lower left

Anna Lee Stacey Harmony in Yellow, 1909

Anna Lee Stacey (1865-1943) Harmony in Yellow, 1909 Oil on canvas 30 x 25 inches Signed and dated 1909, lower right Exhibited: Chicago Artists, 14th Annual Exhibition, 1910 (label verso)

Martha Walter Still Life with Tulips

Martha Walter (1875–1976) Still Life with Tulips Oil on canvas 24 x 20 inches Signed lower left

Martha Walter Still-life with Flowers

Martha Walter (1875-1976) Still-life with Flowers Oil on board 20 x 16 inches Signed lower left

Mary Motz Wills Grandi Flora, Magnolia Flower framed

MARY MOTZ WILLS (1875-1961) Grandi Flora, Magnolia Flower Watercolor on paper 21 ½ x 15 inches Signed lower right