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The Superb Lily

William Ward

1799

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Floral

Dominant colour

The Superb Lily is a 1799 ink by William Ward, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: William Ward
When & what style?: 1799 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a single lily plant with big, spotted flowers. The petals are curled and detailed, almost like lace. The stems and leaves are dark, making the flowers stand out against a shadowy background. The artist used a mix of shading and lines to make the flowers look real. The dark spots on the petals are tiny dots, adding texture. Next, look up etching to see how this technique works.