Artwork
Lady with a Rose
Lady with a Rose is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Charles-François-Prosper Guérin. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1901, *Lady with a Rose* is an oil painting by French artist Charles‑François‑Prosper Guérin. Executed during his post‑Impressionist period, the work presents a solitary woman holding a single rose, set against a muted backdrop of greens and blues. The composition balances delicate detail with broader color fields, reflecting Guérin’s training at the École des Beaux‑Arts.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a young woman whose dark hair is accented with small floral ornaments. She wears a pink dress with a white, ruffled neckline, and turns her head slightly to the right, offering a contemplative pose. The rose she cradles introduces a motif of fragility and quiet intimacy, suggesting themes of femininity and refined elegance.
Technique & Style
Guérin employs expressive color modulation typical of post‑Impressionism, using saturated pinks and soft blues to delineate form while maintaining a sense of atmospheric depth. Brushwork varies between smooth modeling of the face and looser, more gestural strokes in the background, creating a dialogue between precise figure rendering and broader tonal harmony.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where it remains on display. The work exemplifies Guérin’s mature style and contributes to the museum’s holdings of early twentieth‑century French art, illustrating the cross‑national exchange of artistic ideas at the turn of the century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles-François-Prosper Guérin
Charles-François-Prosper Guérin (1875 in Sens – 1939) was a French Post-Impressionist painter.
