Artwork
Myosotis and Roses in a Vase
Myosotis and Roses in a Vase is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Frederick Stone Batcheller. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: Batcheller
About this work
Technique & Style
While the specific date of creation remains undetermined, the piece utilizes traditional materials consistent with American still-life practices of the period.
Frederick Stone Batcheller executed Myosotis and Roses in a Vase using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work is classified as a painting and measures 30.8 cm in height by 28.26 cm in width. While the specific date of creation remains undetermined, the piece utilizes traditional materials consistent with American still-life practices of the period.
The composition features a floral arrangement, specifically depicting myosotis and roses situated within a vase. No specific details regarding the artist's handling of the brushwork, the current physical condition of the surface, or distinct stylistic maneuvers beyond the subject matter are provided in the available records.
History & Provenance
Frederick Stone Batcheller painted Myosotis and Roses in a Vase, an oil on canvas work measuring 30.8 by 28.26 cm, in 1971 as documented in Gerdts and Burke's 1971 catalog. The painting entered the ownership of William H. Gerdts by at least 1971 and was gifted to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 2018. It remains in the museum's collection today.
Myosotis and Roses in a Vase is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. The painting entered the Gallery’s collection as a gift in 2018 from William H. Gerdts, who had owned it at least since 1971. The work is recorded in Gerdts’s 1971 survey of American still-life painting with an illustration and discussion.
The Gallery lists the painting with accession details matching the dimensions reported by Wikidata: height 30.8 cm and width 28.26 cm.
Overview
Frederick Stone Batcheller’s oil on canvas, dated 1863, presents a still‑life arrangement centered on a white vase placed on a table against a muted brown backdrop. The composition focuses on a modest bouquet of white‑budded myosotis and accompanying green foliage, with a trailing vine that extends from the vase onto the surface below.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a simple yet carefully rendered grouping of flowers, emphasizing the delicate texture of the myosotis buds and the contrast between the pale blossoms and the darker surrounding tones. The inclusion of the trailing vine adds a sense of natural continuity, inviting contemplation of growth and the fleeting nature of floral beauty.
Context
Created during the Romantic period, the painting reflects the era’s interest in nature’s intimate details and emotional resonance. Batcheller’s focus on a quiet domestic scene aligns with Romanticism’s broader tendency to elevate everyday subjects through heightened sensitivity and atmospheric treatment.
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