Artwork
Pansies
Pansies is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1874 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
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- Inscribed:lower left: Fantin.74.
About this work
Technique & Style
It measures approximately 46 cm in height by 71 cm in width and belongs to the still‑life genre, depicting a cluster of pansies.
The work titled Pansies is an oil painting on canvas created in 1874 by Henri Fantin‑Latour. It measures approximately 46 cm in height by 71 cm in width and belongs to the still‑life genre, depicting a cluster of pansies. The painting is executed in oil paint on a canvas support and entered the National Gallery of Art through the 1999 bequest of Paul Mellon, with a life interest granted to his wife, Rachel Lambert Mellon. The composition reflects a conventional approach to floral still life, emphasizing botanical detail and tonal harmony.
History & Provenance
Henri Fantin-Latour executed the oil painting Pansies in 1874. The work entered the collection of Paul Mellon (1907–1999) of Upperville, Virginia, who retained ownership until his death. Upon passing, Mellon bequeathed the canvas to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1999.
This transfer included a life interest for his wife, Rachel Lambert Mellon (1910–2014). Following her tenure, the painting was fully accessioned by the museum as part of the Mellon bequest.
Overview
Henri Fantin-Latour created Pansies in 1874, an oil painting on canvas. This work features three purple pansies arranged simply in a clear glass vase. It belongs to a significant body of still-life paintings for which the French artist was recognized, often focusing on floral subjects. The piece exemplifies his consistent engagement with the genre of flower painting throughout his career.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents three purple pansies in a modest glass vase, their delicate forms rendered with a lifelike softness. Thin stems gently curve, suggesting a natural inclination towards a light source. For Fantin-Latour, such floral subjects offered a retreat from the social and political turmoil of his era, resulting in compositions that convey a sense of quiet intimacy rather than the opulence of more elaborate bouquets.
Context
Created in 1874, Pansies is part of Henri Fantin-Latour's extensive series of floral still lifes. These works provided the artist with a personal refuge, allowing him to concentrate on natural beauty away from the social and political unrest of the period. Although aligned with the broader Impressionist movement through its choice of an everyday subject, Fantin-Latour's style often retained a distinct academic precision in its execution.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation:; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
