An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Still Life with Dahlias, Zinnias, Hollyhocks and Plumsc. 1835
Artist: Eugène Delacroix
French, 1798–1863
large bouquet of flowers--mostly dahlias--in white, pink, orange and red, in a blue and white round jar; more flowers and plums in LRC
21 11/16 × 25 13/16 in. (55.09 × 65.56 cm) (sight)
31 7/8 × 36 1/8 × 3 1/4 in. (80.96 × 91.76 × 8.26 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
France
19th century
Gift of funds from the Friends of the Institute in celebration of their 100th anniversary, with generous support from Nivin MacMillan, Mary Agnes and Al McQuinn, Sheila C. Morgan, Mary and Douglas Olson, Carol Burton Gray, Nikki and Ron Lewis, Lucy Crosby Mitchell, Charles and Jeanne Scheiderer, Linda and Phil Boelter, Pamela and Mark Friedland, Katie and Steve Remole, Elizabeth Short and Kirk Cozine, Samuel and Patricia McCullough, Helen Leslie and Ronald Goldster, Lucille Amis, Carolyn and Tucker Dahl, Maria Eggemeyer, Martha Head, Heidi Ault and Gretchen Holland, Ed and Teresa Luterbach, Jane and Thomas Nelson, Suzanne C. and William B. Payne, Constance Sommers, Marilyn Sundberg, Marietta and Jot Turner, and gifts made in memory of Teresa Pfister
Imagine walking through a sun-drenched garden, where the air is fragrant with the sweet aroma of blooming flowers. This vivid scene brings to mind the renowned artist Eugène Delacroix, who, while celebrated today for his striking depictions of North African locales and grand Biblical narratives, had an enduring love for a different muse: flowers.
Delacroix lived in a time when the world was full of stories — stories told through the sweeping strokes of a brush, narratives crafted from vibrant pigments. Yet, hidden amongst the grand historical themes of his larger works were the quieter tales of delicate petals and lush gardens. Accounts from his lifetime reveal that it was not just battlefields or mythological figures that stirred his imagination, but these simple, yet profound, elements of nature.
His floral still life paintings, though few, were nothing short of revolutionary. They held a mirror to his artistic ambitions, reflecting what he and his contemporaries considered the heart of "abstract" painting. Here, color danced upon the canvas, compositions twisted delightfully, and the dazzling execution of each piece evoked a sense of wonder. These works moved beyond mere botanical illustrations. Instead, they surged with life, celebrating the beauty of pure painting itself.
What’s fascinating is that this exploration of flowers was a fundamental stepping stone for Delacroix. It was within these early exercises that he began to forge his path toward transforming the very essence of painting in France—an artistic journey that would echo through the ages. In a world of intricate narratives, it is these serene floral masterpieces that quietly whisper the story of a man who saw extraordinary beauty in the ordinary, inspiring generations to look closer at the world around them.
About the artist
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