Martin Johnson Heade
American, 1819­1904
Magnolias
1885­90
Oil on canvas
38.7 x 61.9 cm
Restricted gift of Gloria and Richard Manney; Harold L. Stuart Fund, 1983.791

This painting is a close-up view of magnolia blossoms; we can almost smell the alluring lemon-like scent of these exotic flowers. If you touched the magnolia petals, what would they feel like?

Heade made three trips to Brazil, as well as trips to England and Europe, to study exotic plants and animals. During his very long career, he also painted views of East Coast salt marshes, romantic images of South American forests, and still lifes of Brazilian orchids and hummingbirds.