Flowers on a Tabletop

Of the present work, Judith H. O'Toole writes, "Although Roesen kept to the same themes throughout his active life, his style underwent certain changes. The later canvases show a greater solidity, balance, and interest in geometry while the earlier ones show a looser, more organic organization. The graceful 'S' curve around which [this] composition is arranged points to an earlier date. Typical elements in [Flowers on a Tabletop] are the soft forms of the cabbage roses juxtaposed with the blue morning glories, the primroses on the right of the bouquet, the fallen rose at the foot of the vase, and the bird's nest with three eggs. Unusual and delightful motifs are the butterfly (seen also in his earliest painting dated 1848 in the Corcoran Gallery of Art [now National Gallery of Art]) and the lilacs which form the apex of the 'S' curve...In all, the canvas is a superb example of Roesen's quality." (unpublished letter, 1986)