Artwork
Yellow Chrysanthemums
Yellow Chrysanthemums is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
About this work
Overview
Henri Fantin‑Latour’s *Yellow Chrysanthemums* (1890) is an oil on canvas still‑life that presents a modest bouquet of yellow chrysanthemums. Executed in the late‑19th‑century French tradition, the work is part of the permanent collection at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, where it exemplifies the artist’s focus on botanical subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The painting concentrates on a single floral arrangement, isolating the bright yellow blossoms against a subdued background. By emphasizing the delicate texture and colour of the chrysanthemums, Fantin‑Latour invites contemplation of the fleeting beauty of nature, a theme recurrent in his numerous flower studies.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil, the work displays a restrained palette and careful brushwork that balance realism with the softer, atmospheric qualities associated with Impressionism. The artist’s handling of light captures subtle variations in tone, while the precise rendering of petals reflects his meticulous approach to botanical detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1890, the canvas entered the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum’s holdings in the early 20th century, where it has remained on public display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing French 19th‑century painting, particularly works that illustrate the period’s still‑life genre.
Context
Fantin‑Latour (1836‑1904) was a French painter and lithographer noted for his flower compositions and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers. *Yellow Chrysanthemums* belongs to the latter phase of his career, when his floral works achieved a synthesis of scientific observation and aesthetic refinement, positioning him among the prominent still‑life practitioners of his era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ignace Henri Jean Theodore Fantin-Latour (French pronunciation: ; 14 January 1836 – 25 August 1904) was a French painter and lithographer best known for his flower paintings and group portraits of Parisian artists and writers.
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