FOR LOVE OF PANSIES
RIVALING THE IMPRESSIONISTS
Henri Fantin-Latour, Pansies, detail, 1874, oil on canvas, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
I pray, what flowers are these?
The pansy this,
O, that’s for love’s thoughts.
George Chapman, All Fools, Act II, Scene 1
French artist Henri Fantin-Latour (1863-1904) often rivaled his Impressionist friends Renoir and Monet with his moving canvases of flowers, whether elegant roses, flamboyant peonies, or humble pansies. British writer George Chapman (1559-1634) was a contemporary of William Shakespeare, known also for his plays and poetry.
The above image is used solely for educational purposes and in the U.S. public domain.
Pansies, full painting
