Iris Seedlings by  Sir Cedric  Bt Morris

Iris Seedlings

1943

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Artwork details

Dimensions
support: 1219 x 918 mm frame: 1415 x 1101 x 70 mm
Location
Tate Collections
Copyright
© The estate of Sir Cedric Morris | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate

About this artwork

Curator: The Tate presents us with "Iris Seedlings" by Sir Cedric Morris, painted on a large canvas. It's a riot of floral color, isn't it? Editor: It is, yet something about the muted light gives me a feeling of quiet contemplation, despite the vibrant blossoms. Curator: Morris cultivated many irises himself. I wonder about the labor involved, the specific pigments available to create this spectrum. Editor: Irises have long symbolized faith, hope, and wisdom. The profusion of colors here might represent the diverse paths of life, nurtured from a single source. Curator: Interesting! Perhaps the vessel contributes; considering its form and material, it appears to be a mass-produced ceramic. Editor: Yes, the pitcher does contrast with the natural forms. It is a humble container, elevating the irises. Maybe speaking to beauty in the everyday. Curator: The brushwork definitely invites us to consider the physical act of painting, applying paint to achieve luminosity. Editor: Ultimately, both the symbolic weight of the flowers and the artist’s approach leave an impression of serene reflection. Curator: A harmony achieved through combined artistic labor and natural beauty.

Comments

tate's profile
tateabout 1 year ago

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/morris-iris-seedlings-t03230

tate's profile
tateabout 1 year ago

Before the Second World War, Morris was a well-known painter and breeder of irises, which he admired for their 'elegance, pride and delicacy'. In 1940 he moved to Benton End in Suffolk, where he cultivated a garden inspired by Claude Monet's at Giverny. He grew about 1,000 new iris seedlings every year. 1943, the year this work was painted, yielded a particularly beautiful crop. The flowers were placed in a Chinese jug and painted quickly so that the picture could be completed before they died. Morris admired Chinese flower painters because they conveyed something of the deeper meaning of plants. Gallery label, February 2004