Thursday, December 3, 2009

A London Garden

A London Garden - Thomas Matthew Rooke - 1904, oil on canvas

This is such a pretty space with soft grasses and trees and shrubs of many shades of green. The path invites you to walk past gardens filled with a variety of foliage plants and many flowers such as purple and mauve iris, English bluebells, flowers of many shades of blue and the occasional soft peach coloured flower... I very much like the tree with its white blossoms.
Please enlarge the image as there is so much detail to admire ... ♥

Thomas Matthew Rooke 1842 - 1942

A painter of a variety of subjects, including architectural, biblical, portraits and landscapes. In his younger days closely associated with Ruskin, Burne-Jones and William Morris and heavily influenced by them. He worked as an assistant to Burne-Jones at the William Morris company for many years.

For Alexander

18 comments:

The Mess said...

In some paintings you can almost feel the the air, clear spring with temperature raising. And the smell, flowers and pondwater mixed with the fragrance from grass and leafs... Looks like a lovely day:-)

Rather odd that the painter lived for hundred years. Many things he lived to see.

dianne said...

Yes M dear, in some paintings you can experience all of these lovely things,they draw you in, you can almost reach out and brush your hands along the foliage and maybe pick a flower...I would like to walk into this garden and discover more of its delights. :)

I was surprised myself when I saw the age of the artist when he died, that is most unusual, especially for the Victorian era...and yes he would have seen so many things and so many changes in his lifetime.

Thank you, so nice to hear from you again, I always enjoy your thoughtful comments. ♡ xo

Diane said...

I want a garden like that :)

painter said...

It is a wonderful image because it allows one to role play. A great painting doesn't just invite you to look at it but to participate in it.

dianne said...

Yes Diane dear, me too, I am working on it but it takes a lot of time in this dry country of mine.

I just have to create enough shade for some of the more delicate flowering bulbs, but I do have our own lovely native iris plants in my garden, lilies and some flowers are very adaptable to the summer climate. ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear painter
yes it does invite you to become part of the painting, that is what I liked so much about it ... what a lovely place to spend a morning or an afternoon, just like the garden paintings I posted in late October by Peder Severin Krøyer. ♡

foam said...

all i need to a blankie and i'm ready to snooze in the grassy area over there ..

dianne said...

I'm so pleased that you stopped by dear Foamy , you are almost always the first person to comment on my posts ... I was worried that you might have ostracised me as well ... it's not nice to be completely shut out.

I'm sorry that you are so busy, the end of the year is always hectic ... we will find you a nice blankie and you can have a long sleep there on the soft grass amongst the flowers and you will wake up refreshed. xo ♡

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful picture! It is now my wallpaper. Many thanks for sharing this fine painting, Dianne. I wonder what's at the bottom left of that picture. I will just have to find out where it was painted...

Anonymous said...

Thomas Matthew Rooke's 'King Ahab's Coveting' is at the Russell-Cotes Museum in Bournemouth. I may have a look at it this weekend...

dianne said...

Thank you dear Alexander , it was my pleasure to share it with you and I am so pleased that you like it and have chosen it for your wallpaper.
I have examined the painting closely and I think the artists name and the date of the painting is there in the lower left hand side of the painting, there could also be a pond.
There is much to be seen here, if you look to the pathway and opening there is a lattice fence to the right, beyond that there are some hens, a washing line and a house with a brick chimney.
The young woman has picked some flowers and she is bending to pat a small dog I believe.
How would one find out the location of the subject of this painting, there is not a lot of information on the Net about the artist. ♡

dianne said...

'King Ahab's Coveting', I am not aware of this painting, in fact there is not a lot of information about Thomas Matthew Rooke on the Internet.
Lucky you, visiting a museum this weekend, have a lovely time in Bournemouth dear friend. :) ♡

Ellie Kings said...

Breathtaking painting! Enjoying your blog, glad I stumbled upon it. Have a great weekend!
Ellie

ANNA-LYS said...

Hi Dianne,
This painting makes me longing for the Springtime!

Have a lovely weekend,

dianne said...

Thank you Ellie ,
yes it is a beautiful painting, I'm pleased that you liked it and that you have stumbled upon my blog, you are welcome back any time. ♡

dianne said...

Thank you dear Anna-Lys
you have a lovely weekend as well.

Gosh you have a lot of Winter ahead of you before it is Spring once more but I'm pleased that the painting made you think of Springtime. ♡

puerileuwaite said...

I've been wary of London garden settings ever since Mary Poppins. Quite a shame too, as they used to be one of my favorite things.

dianne said...

There is nothing to fear in this lovely garden Puggles my sweet, if you look closely there is a little dog there already...and he is not tied up with anything not even string. ♡