Sarah Choate Sears (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1858 - 1935, West Gouldsboro, Maine)
Gladioli, 1915
Pastel on paper, 50 x 40.6 cm (19 11/16 x 16 in.)
This vertical pastel drawing depicts a cropped view of a bunch of red gladioli flowers.There are about six tall stems in all, each with sword-shaped leaves and spikes of flowers. The stems are flush with the frame on our right, then lean slightly to our left, creating a triangle of background space. Some of the stems hold a profusion of blossoms in shades of red, ranging from deep red, to reddish orange, to pale red. Delicate flower parts can be seen in the center of some groups of petals. The overall color of the background is orange, with tall wisps of yellow covering much of it. In the lower corner to our left is the signature Sarah C Sears/ 1915.
Macknight 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.