Still Life with Dahlias
- Artist: John Joseph Wardell Power (Artists)
- Date: 1926
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Still Life with Dahlias” by John Joseph Wardell Power. Painted in 1926, the work is a vibrant oil on canvas that captures the fleeting moment when a bouquet of dahlias rests on a simple tablecloth. Power, known for his keen observation of light and texture, layers the petals in a way that almost makes them feel tactile. The background remains deliberately subdued, allowing the deep reds and soft whites of the flowers to dominate the composition.
Notice how the artist uses shadow to give depth; the darker rim around the stems creates a subtle three‑dimensionality. The brushwork is smooth, yet you can still detect the fine underpainting that adds richness to the colors. It’s a perfect example of early twentieth‑century still life, where realism meets an almost poetic focus on everyday objects. The canvas measures a modest size, which encourages an intimate viewing experience—you’re drawn close, almost as if you could pick up a single bloom.
Overall, this piece is a testament to Power’s skill in balancing composition, color, and light, creating a moment of quiet, yet striking beauty that still feels fresh to contemporary viewers.
See it in person
Still Life with Dahlias 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.
