Nasturtiums

The painting "Nasturtiums" by Emanuel Phillips Fox, an Australian Impressionist, is a captivating piece created in 1912, a period of profound artistic inspiration for Fox. This artwork features Edith Susan Gerard Anderson, a close friend of the artist and a frequent model for his work. In the painting, Anderson is seated in a lush garden, engrossed in a book, surrounded by vibrant nasturtium leaves and flowers.

Originally, the painting belonged to the Boyd family, friends of Fox. In 2011, it found a new home at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, purchased as a tribute to Margaret Olley, a celebrated Sydney painter and a patron of the gallery. Fox was one of Olley's favorite artists, and "Nasturtiums" was seen as a reflection of her artistic preferences.

During this period, Fox lived in Paris and often depicted scenes of everyday Parisian life, featuring his wife and friends. Edith Susan Gerard Anderson, the woman in "Nasturtiums" appeared in several of his works. This painting is part of a series where Fox portrayed women in garden settings, capturing the elegance of the Belle Époque era.

Critics have praised "Nasturtiums" for its enchanting quality and exquisite use of light and color, hallmarks of Fox's style. The influence of Japanese print design is evident in the painting's color arrangement, enhancing its decorative charm.

The journey of "Nasturtiums" from Fox to a public collection is fascinating. The artist gifted it to Edith Boyd, and it eventually surfaced at an auction where the Art Gallery of New South Wales acquired it in 2011. Over the years, the painting has been showcased in various galleries, including the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.