Artwork
Blackberry Blossom
Blackberry Blossom is a watercolor work on paper by the American Folk Art artist Mary E. Butler. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Mary E.
About this work
Overview
Mary E. Butler’s 1867 watercolour presents a modest arrangement of blackberry blossoms set in a blue ceramic vase. The composition rests on a yellow tabletop, with a few scattered petals suggesting a recent handling of the flowers. The artist’s initials, “M E Butler,” appear discreetly within the picture plane.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the delicate pink‑white blossoms of the blackberry shrub, accompanied by their green foliage and slender stems. The inclusion of fallen petals and the soft lighting convey a quiet, contemplative moment, emphasizing the fleeting beauty of the bloom.
Technique & Style
Executed in transparent watercolour, the painting relies on fine brushwork to render the texture of petals and leaves. A restrained palette of pastel pinks, whites, and muted greens creates a gentle tonal harmony, while the subtle washes suggest atmospheric depth without overt dramatization.
History & Provenance
Signed by the artist, the piece dates to 1867, placing it within the mid‑nineteenth‑century British watercolour tradition. No further ownership records are presently documented, and the work remains attributed solely to Butler based on the signature and stylistic analysis.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Mary E. Butler never traveled far from her garden in Charleston, yet her watercolors of blackberries and oleanders feel like they’ve been plucked from a sun-drenched Italian villa. She painted the same blooms year after…
