Lilies and Iris
- Artist: Vanessa Bell
- Date: (circa) 1919
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the “Lilies and Iris” by Vanessa Bell, created around 1919. Bell’s devotion to flowers shows up everywhere in her work, and here she puts a handful of blooms in a striking, almost minimalist vase. The canvas is oil on canvas, typical of her post‑war still‑lives.
Notice the vase itself is set on a painted rush‑seated chair that she would have used at her Sussex home in Charleston farmhouse. The chair’s back and the vase share a gentle curve, a visual conversation that makes the whole composition feel grounded. The patterned background isn’t just decoration; its bold lines echo the outlines of the arum lilies, tying the flowers and the setting together.
The colour palette is restrained, yet the contrast between the white lilies, the blue‑tinted iris, and the muted background creates a calm, almost meditative mood. Bell’s brushwork is deliberate, with precise lines that suggest the petals without overworking them.
In the broader context of her work, “Lilies and Iris” fits neatly into her post‑war period, where she explored simple, domestic scenes with an almost quiet strength. The painting is a lovely snapshot of Bell’s ability to combine everyday objects with subtle, harmonious design.
See it in person
Lilies and Iris hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
