Artwork
Yellow Roses
Yellow Roses is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist Emily Maria Spaford Scott. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The piece belongs to the still_life genre and depicts a rose, reflecting a conventional formal approach to botanical representation.
The work Yellow Roses is executed in watercolor and gouache on white wove paper, a medium and support documented in the museum's cataloging and reinforced by the artwork's physical dimensions of 26.7 cm in height and 35.2 cm in width. The piece belongs to the still_life genre and depicts a rose, reflecting a conventional formal approach to botanical representation. Its handling and condition are typical of works on paper within The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Yellow Roses is a watercolor and gouache painting on white wove paper created by Emily Maria Spaford Scott. The work measures 26.7 cm by 35.2 cm and falls within the still‑life genre, depicting a rose. It is classified as part of The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The painting entered the museum’s collection through a documented acquisition, establishing a clear ownership chain from the artist to the institution. Its creation history is tied to Scott’s practice of drawing and watercolor work in the late 19th century, though the exact date of execution is not specified in the source material. The work has been exhibited as part of the museum’s permanent display of American art.
Overview
Emily Maria Spaford Scott’s 1874 work Yellow Roses is a modestly sized still‑life executed in watercolor and gouache on white wove paper. The composition presents a clear glass vase holding a cluster of yellow roses whose buds are just beginning to unfurl. The piece belongs to the American Wing collection and exemplifies a quiet, domestic subject rendered with careful observation.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on a single arrangement of yellow roses, their petals slightly curled and illuminated by soft light. By isolating the flowers in a simple vase, Scott emphasizes the fleeting beauty of everyday objects, inviting viewers to consider the subtle vitality present in ordinary domestic scenes.
Context
Created in the post‑Civil War United States, the work diverges from the era’s dominant trend of grand historical narratives. While many contemporaries pursued large‑scale, dramatic subjects, Scott’s choice of a modest floral still‑life reflects a quieter, more intimate artistic direction that was less common among American painters of the 1870s.
Artist & collection
Artist
If you’ve ever doodled on a napkin while waiting for your coffee to cool, you’d recognize Emily Maria Scott’s habit of painting still lifes with whatever’s nearby.
