Floral Still Life in Blue
Painting on canvas (likely mounted to board) • Attributed to H. Lasham (based on the signature in the lower right corner). Likely a regional professional or highly skilled decorative modernist artist.
Style & Movement
Modernist Expressionism / Palette Knife Impasto
Medium & Technique
Heavy impasto oil painting executed with palette knives and potentially piping tools; utilizing wet-in-wet and alla prima techniques to create sculptural volume.
Creation Period
Circa late 20th century (1970s–1990s)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 16 x 20 inches; Portrait orientation.
Subject Description
A vertical composition of mixed flora, including large white lilies with maroon speckling, purple blossoms, and yellow accents. The bouquet is set against a textured, neutral blue-gray background, focusing on the tactile quality of the paint rather than botanical accuracy.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good. The impasto peaks appear intact, though heavy paint layers of this depth are prone to internal stress cracking and dust accumulation.
Estimated Market Value
$400 – $800
Auction Estimate
$250 – $500
Provenance History
Unknown; likely acquired through a regional gallery or estate sale. The frame style (linen liner with wood) is typical of mid-to-late 20th-century residential framing.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the mid-century to late-century decorative arts movement where the physical properties of paint (texture and relief) were prioritized over traditional perspective, following in the lineage of artists like Nicola Simbari or the more extreme textures of the 1970s.
Notable Features
Remarkable 3D sculptural quality where the paint stands several millimeters off the canvas; distinct signature 'H. Lasham' in the bottom right; original period frame with a classic linen inset.
Condition Issues
Visible dust trapped in high-relief crevices; potential for minor brittle cracking due to the extreme thickness of the oil film ('crazing'); slight yellowing of the varnish may be present.
Conservation Recommendations
Gentle surface cleaning with a soft, dry brush to remove dust; avoid solvent-based cleaners that could soften the thick paint; maintain in a temperature-controlled environment to prevent expansion/contraction of the thick impasto.