Amethyst Glass Oil Lamp c. 1936

Editor: Here we have a watercolor and drawing, Amethyst Glass Oil Lamp, from around 1936, attributed to Marcus Moran. I’m struck by its… almost vintage charm. It’s like something you’d find in your grandmother's attic, but rendered in such a delicate way. What do you make of it? Curator: Well, my dear, it certainly does have that comforting, slightly faded quality of memory. This watercolor isn't just a depiction of an object, it's almost a portal. Can you see how the facets of the glass seem to shimmer, almost breathing? The artist's choice of watercolour really enhances the softness. I wonder, does it remind you of anything specific, perhaps a story? Editor: A story? Hmmm… maybe a fairy tale, or a really old bottle of perfume. Curator: Precisely! There’s a dreamy, almost fairytale-like quality, isn’t there? Think about it, this object, so carefully rendered, was likely a source of light in someone's home. But it's the *purple*, the colour, which really strikes me as…evocative. It moves beyond utility to conjure something... almost magical. Why *amethyst*, do you suppose? Editor: Maybe they just liked the color? Curator: Perhaps. But colour always carries a cultural weight. Amethyst is associated with royalty, spirituality, wisdom… Do you think any of that comes through? Editor: I guess it does lend it an air of sophistication…almost a touch mystical, now that you mention it. Curator: Indeed. And that simple watercolour captures all that… which to me makes this humble drawing quite potent, wouldn’t you say? It really has this lovely way of turning the mundane into something otherworldly, just a glimpse of what might be. Editor: Definitely given me a lot to think about when looking at ‘still life’ images. Thank you.