Still Life with Flowers in a Vase
Painting on board • Alfred Reginald Thomson (British, 1894–1979)
Style & Movement
Mid-20th Century British Post-Impressionism / Modernism
Medium & Technique
Oil on board using a combination of impasto and textured brushwork. The background features a cross-hatched or stippled decorative pattern.
Creation Period
1970
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 20 x 16 inches; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A vibrant floral arrangement in a white and gold tapered vase resting on a circular brown table. The composition features diverse blooms including red, white, orange, and yellow flowers with green foliage against a pale pink and blue patterned background.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible minor surface dirt and slight yellowing of varnish consistent with age.
Estimated Market Value
$1,500 - $2,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$1,000 - $1,800 USD
Provenance History
Likely private collection; signed and dated '70 lower left. Thomson was a well-known Royal Academician, suggesting primary acquisition from a London gallery or exhibition.
Art Historical Significance
Alfred Thomson was a prominent British painter and the last person to win an Olympic Gold Medal for painting (1948). This work represents his late-career style, characterized by a more relaxed, expressive brushwork compared to his earlier official commissions and war art.
Notable Features
Prominent red signature and date '70' in the lower left corner. The use of a decorative, almost textile-like background pattern is a distinctive stylistic choice for his later still life works.
Condition Issues
Slight surface grime, minor frame abrasion at the edges, and faint craquelure in the thicker white impasto areas.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning by a professional conservator to remove oxidized varnish and grime; display in a climate-controlled environment away from direct UV light.
Collector Notes
Alfred R Thomson