A team of four Portland River Valley Garden Club members (Kelle, Jen, Bonnie and Margaret) created a floral interpretation of “Shinnecock Hills (A View of Shinnecock), 1891, for this year’s
Fine Art & Flowers event. The oil on wood painting by American artist William Merrit Chase depicts a scene in the late nineteenth century of the idyllic beachside town of Shinnecock, in Southhampton, Long Island.
“We were inspired by the color palette and mood of this piece by Chase. The romance and femininity melds with the rustle of the sea grass and smell of the ocean. Our floral choices and other design elements evoke a day at the seaside.”
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Our floral interpretation of the painting includes a variety of grasses, roses, lisianthus, delphinium and eucalyptus, assembled in a wicker basket.
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| An additional view of the display after its creation and before drop off in Hartford. |
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| Close-up of the floral arrangements included in the arrangement. |
Focusing on the details
In the painting, Chase included a handwritten note on the piece, stating “Sketch made to illustrate one way to begin a study.” We included a journal, an antique inkwell and an antique Victorian era dip pen made from mother of pearl and engraved with a black floral carving (circa 1890) to highlight this written message in the piece. The entire floral display is housed in a basket that could be used for a day at the beach.
We are so appreciative for the consult and beautiful floral elements purchased from Leah O’Hearn, owner of It’s so Ranunculus Flower Shoppe, to make our vision come to life.
This floral creation will be on display with other floral creations through May 5 during the 41st Annual Fine Art & Flowers fundraiser for the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut.
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| A section of the oil painting. |
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| Close-up detail of the woman depicted in the painting. |
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| The painting on display at the museum. |
Note: Images of the painting are in the public domain because the author died in 1916.
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