Larkspur, Peonies, and Canterbury Bells

The composition centers on three species of garden flowers, each rendered with a focus on their individual forms and colors. By grouping these blooms, the painting explores the visual harmony and seasonal variety typical of domestic still-life subjects.

Executed in watercolor, the piece reflects the light‑filled, loosely rendered brushwork associated with American Impressionism, while retaining a high degree of botanical accuracy. Hills’ handling of pigment emphasizes delicate translucency and subtle tonal shifts across petals and foliage.

Laura Coombs Hills, noted for both miniature portraiture and larger floral works, painted this piece during a prolific period in the 1920s. The work entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s holdings through acquisition, adding to the institution’s representation of early‑20th‑century American watercolors.

Hills worked within a network of artists dedicated to miniature painting, co‑founding the American Society of Miniature Painters and becoming the first miniature artist elected to the Society of American Artists. Her broader career also included illustration for children’s books, reflecting a versatile engagement with visual culture.