Laura Coombs Hills (1859 - 1952) American
Oil on paper
Measure 11 1/2"in H x 13 3/4"in W and 16 3/4"in H x 19"in W with frame

Known for: Miniature floral, landscape and portrait painting, illustration
Biography: An editorial in the November 23, 1939 Boston Herald stated: "Somehow she manages to bring dancing sunlight and vibrant atmosphere within the four walls and to soak her flowers in it. One artist has said that New England and the United States has never produced her equal." Indeed, Laura Coombs Hills was one of this country's most sought after flower artists. Primarily self-taught, she was saved from the self-consciousness that one usually associates with formal art training. As critic A. J. Philpot stated "Laura C. Hills has aways been in a class by herself." So well known is Laura Hills for her flower "portraiture" we must not forget her very highly regarded miniature painting, which was the basis of her renown in the first place. By 1920 though, when Laura Hills eyesight began to deteriorate and the demand for miniatures waned, she devoted all of her time to rendering the flowers that she adored. In addition, what is unique about her depiction of flowers is her capacity to grasp the subtle nuances of "gesture" as the flowers would naturally appear in a vase. Capturing these qualities on paper required a sureness of touch and mastery of technique that was her hallmark. Clearly, time was of the essence in creating these compositions before the flowers faded, but there seems to be no artificial rearranging of the shapes and inclination of the flowers. She was also unrivaled in her fidelity to color and imaginative compositions. This particular composition is a veritable symphony of the interplay of sympathetic colors.

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