Artwork
Study of harebells and marguerites
Study of harebells and marguerites is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 5 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour study, dated 5 July 1880, features a simple, naturalistic arrangement of flowers, primarily harebells and marguerites, rendered in light, subdued colors on a plain background.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a bouquet of everyday flowers, focusing on the botanical accuracy of harebells (with their characteristic bell-shaped, purple blooms) and marguerites (bright yellow daisies), emphasizing their freshness and simplicity.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the piece showcases careful, soft-lined depictions of stems and leaves in muted green and blue hues, with the flowers themselves painted in a fresh, lightweight manner, characteristic of observational botanical art.
History & Provenance
Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1973 through the Linder Bequest from Leslie Linder, the work also features a lesser-known verso: a faint, partially erased sketch of pink flowers on the recto, and a watercolour sketch of marguerites (with open blooms and closed buds) on the verso.
Context
Created during a period when botanical illustration was both a scientific pursuit and an artistic expression, this study reflects Beatrix Potter's early interests in natural history and her developing skill in capturing the natural world.
Legacy
While not a widely recognized work in Potter's oeuvre, which is more famously associated with children's literature illustrations, this study demonstrates her foundational skill in observational watercolour painting, a skillset that would later inform her beloved illustrations.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Helen Beatrix Heelis (née Potter; 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943), usually known as Beatrix Potter ( BEE-ə-triks), was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist.
