Vase of flowers, with Cherries and Almonds on the table
1871
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1871
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting shows a simple wooden table with a glass vase holding pink and white flowers. A few ripe cherries and almonds sit beside it. The background is plain, so your eyes stay on the bright blooms. Fantin-Latour painted flowers like this for British buyers who loved still-lifes. He worked slowly, building up color in thin layers called glazing. You can see each petal’s soft edge. His careful layers remind me of the smooth surfaces in Dutch Golden Age still-lifes. Look for his name next at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
