Annual Chrysanthemums, 1889. Henri Fantin-Latour. Oil on canvas. Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust.
While many of his friends experimented with spontaneous and emotional approaches to painting, Henri Fantin- Latour was famous during his lifetime for his poised flower paintings. He painted directly from life with no intended symbolism, contrary to many of his artistic contemporaries. He made morning visits to his family garden to select the floral arrangements that would be his subject. Fantin-Latour preferred to depict flowers against a plain background to emphasize their contours and subdued yet rich colors and textures.
