Artwork
Still Life with Peonies
Still Life with Peonies is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
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- Inscribed:upper left: à M. Théodore Gad son ami / P Gauguin 84
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is part of Gauguin's early French period and exemplifies his exploration of botanical motifs within the still-life genre.
The painting "Still Life with Peonies" (1884) by Paul Gauguin portrays a bouquet of peonies (Paeonia) rendered in oil on canvas. The subject is a floral still life, focusing on the peony flower. The work is part of Gauguin's early French period and exemplifies his exploration of botanical motifs within the still-life genre.
It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, where it is catalogued as a still life depicting Paeonia.
Technique & Style
Still Life with Peonies is an oil painting on canvas, measuring approximately 59.7 cm in height and 73 cm in width. The work belongs to the still-life genre and depicts a bouquet of peonies. Gauguin executed the piece in 1884 using oil paint applied to a woven canvas support. No further details regarding his handling, surface condition, or specific brushwork are recorded in the provided sources.
History & Provenance
Still Life with Peonies was painted in 1884 by Paul Gauguin as an oil on canvas; there is no indication of a formal commission, and the artist presented the canvas as a gift to M. Haslauer of Rouen. The painting remained in the Haslauer family, possibly appearing at the Haslauer sale in Rouen on 3–6 May 1932, after which it may have passed to the Rouen antiquarian M. Paté, whose 22 May 1932 letter references the work. It subsequently entered the inventory of the Carstairs Gallery in New York before being sold in August 1957 to Paul Mellon of Upperville, Virginia.
Mellon donated the picture to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in 1995, where it is now housed. Its accession number is not published in the available records.
Overview
Still Life with Peonies is an oil on canvas painting by Paul Gauguin. It depicts a modest floral arrangement, characteristic of the still life genre. The work showcases a glass vase filled with pink peonies, resting on a simple table.
This piece was created late in the artist's career, offering a glimpse into his later stylistic inclinations and his continued engagement with diverse subjects.
Context
This particular still life emerged during the later period of Paul Gauguin's artistic output. While specific details regarding its immediate creation or initial ownership are not provided, its existence late in his career offers insight into the range of subjects and approaches he explored beyond his more famous Tahitian scenes. It exemplifies his continued engagement with traditional genres even as his distinctive style evolved.
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Artist
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (; French:; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements.
