Roses Jaunes, Maréchal Niel

Henri Fantin-Latour had an unrivalled record of achievement in the field of 19th-century floral-themed art. He created over 800 floral compositions during his lifetime, among which more than 100 were themed around roses. He was known at the time as the “Rose Painter,” a title that gained even more significance in 1900, when a new cultivated rosette was named in his honour. This work is representative of the mature period of Fantin-Latour ‘s artistry. In this painting, roses bloomed from the narrow-necked bottle. The soft edges of the roses created a sharp contrast with the crisp angles of the glass vase and the transparent highlights, resulting in a vivid liveliness. The rose in this picture has the pedigree of a historic monthly rose, and it was named after Napoleon III’s most trusted general, the much-decorated Adolphe Niel. Because it is a beautiful cultivar with a golden colour and strong fragrance, it was called “the most successful yellow rose of the 19th century.”