Bouquet of Roses 1879

Henri Fantin-Latour created this still life painting, Bouquet of Roses, with oil on canvas, sometime in the late 19th century. Fantin-Latour was a French painter known for his flower paintings and group portraits of prominent Parisian writers and artists. His still lifes were popular among the upper middle classes of France and Britain. The art market during this period played a crucial role in shaping artistic careers. Fantin-Latour, for example, had to appeal to the conservative tastes of his patrons to make a living. Floral arrangements are a common subject in art history. Roses are associated with love and beauty. Here, Fantin-Latour seems to be playing with established visual codes while maintaining an accessible aesthetic, suitable for domestic display. Art historians can look at the correspondence between artists and art dealers to gain a deeper understanding of the economic pressures that shaped artistic production at this time. By studying exhibition reviews, we learn about the reception of Fantin-Latour's work and the public role of floral painting in late 19th-century France.