Red and White Roses

Stuart Park spent much of his career painting flowers and it is for these works that he is best known. His early flower paintings of the late 1880s are regarded as works of brilliance in terms of their design and use of colour.  It is widely felt however that latterly his work became quite formulaic and lacking in interest. Park's focus on design and decorative qualities in his paintings of the late 19th century lead to the emergence of an abstract element  in his work.  Whilst in earlier works the vases and surfaces which supported his flower arrangements played an important part in the compositions, in works such as this they are no longer seen.  Only the bright colours of the petals emerge out of the dark background.  A couple of fallen petals hint at the table top on which the flower arrangement must be standing.