Study Of Poppies - Thomas Cooper Gotch (1854 - 1931)

Framed in a Watts frame.

This study by the Victorian artist Thomas Cooper Gotch celebrates the poppy in all of its glory. Gotch’s painting captures the subtle petal variations of this strong and bold flower with loose and expressive brush strokes. This work demonstrates the artist’s close attention to overall accuracy in the consideration of his figurative works.

This work is possibly a preliminary study for Gotch's well-know portrait, 'Death the Bride', a work completed in 1884/5. If so, this study would have been extremely instrumental in the creation of 'Death the Bride'.

The reverse of the work is inscribed by Gotch 'The Malt House, Newlyn, Penzance'. This was a common inscription by the artist as he was an integral part of the Newlyn community of plein-air painters at this time. In 1883 Gotch was one of the founding members of the revolutionary Newlyn School.