Artwork
Child with Yellow Daisies
Child with Yellow Daisies is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Marchioness of Waterford Louisa Anne. It dates from 1880 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Louisa Anne, Marchioness of Waterford, executed this watercolour in 1880.
About this work
Overview
Louisa Anne, Marchioness of Waterford, executed this watercolour in 1880. The work portrays a young child clutching a small bunch of yellow daisies, rendered with a muted green backdrop and hints of darker foliage. The composition is modest in scale, signed only with the artist’s monogram, and reflects a quiet, intimate moment.
Subject & Meaning
The figure, a child in a dark dress with a white collar and a red necklace, holds the flowers close, eyes lowered as if contemplating the blossoms. The gentle pose and subdued palette convey a sense of introspection and innocence, emphasizing the simple pleasure of observing nature rather than any overt narrative.
Technique & Style
Executed in transparent watercolour, the painting employs soft washes of green for the background and delicate brushwork for the child’s attire and hair. The yellow daisies stand out through careful layering, while the overall handling remains restrained, allowing the lightness of the medium to suggest form without heavy detailing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1880, the piece bears the Marchioness’s monogram, confirming authorship. It remains associated with the artist’s limited body of work, which includes occasional portraiture and genre scenes. Documentation of its ownership after the artist’s death is sparse, but the work has been referenced in catalogues of 19th‑century aristocratic painters.
Context
Watercolour was a favored medium among amateur and aristocratic artists in the late Victorian era, valued for its immediacy and portability. The Marchioness’s choice of a domestic, child‑focused subject aligns with contemporary expectations for genteel women’s artistic output, emphasizing sentiment and modesty over grand historical themes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Marchioness of Waterford Louisa Anne
Louisa Anne Beresford, Marchioness of Waterford (née Stuart; 14 April 1818 – 12 May 1891) was a British Pre-Raphaelite watercolourist and philanthropist.
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