John La Farge (New York, 1835 - 1910, Providence)
The Spirit of the Water Lily, 1861-1862
Watercolor on mechanical reproduction of woodblock drawing , 12.7 x 9.5 cm (5 x 3 3/4 in.)
General admission for children 17 years and under is always free
This small vertical watercolor painting depicts a winged humanoid spirit standing on the pad of a large water lily. The spirit has light skin and dark hair and wears a long, shimmering blue dress. The spirit crosses its arms behind its head, right in front of its pale blue wings, and the upper part of its body leans gently to the viewer’s left. Water, lily pads, and flowers in shades of blues, greens, and white, surround the spirit. The water lily is placed in the front corner to the viewer’s right. The individual petals in shades of white reach up and out; the reflection of the flower in the water shows the petals reaching down.
Blue Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.