“Roses and Orchids”, Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel – overview of the painting 
- Posted by Mikhail Vrubel
- Museum: Omsk Museum of Fine Arts
- Year: 1894
Overview of the painting :
Roses and orchids – Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel. Oil on canvas. Diameter 135 cm (circle)
The paintings were not the only hobby of Mikhail Alexandrovich Vrubel, he created magnificent sculptures, stained-glass windows, monumental panels. Taking part in interior design, he writes a delightful triptych “Flowers” for painting the ceiling in the mansion E. D. Dunker. Before us is the left, round part of the plafon, called “Roses and Orchids”, although instead of orchids, the painter draws lilies.
In the background are pre-threatening turquoise blue skies, which are gradually being tightened by swirling silver-gray clouds. Thanks to this background, it seems that every flower in the bouquet shines with cool mother-of-pearl light. Non-bright, pastel shades of pale purple, light pink, creamy-cream roses harmoniously overlap. Dark olive and blue-green leaves emphasize the fragile charm of flowers. Great snow-white lilies rise proudly above them, graceful stamens tremble slightly in the air. The flowers on the canvas are incredibly real, lively.
The sun’s rays are crushed on thin elastic petals, and the master conveys the game of shadows and light in his favorite technique: clear facets, rigor and graphical lines. The artist lays strokes, as if making a picture of gemstones.
And, of course, another disturbing note inherent in Vrubel – next to the romantic, delicate flowers in the bouquet there are two dark purple, almost black roses. Beautiful and perfect, they remind us of the other, sad side of life.