signed lower right
Summer Bouquet is a confident and expressive still life. Likely painted for the Royal Scottish Academy’s Annual Exhibition. This work is a symphony of mauve, yellow, and blue, where yellow bearded irises, phlox, and summer blooms overflow from a central vase, cascading across a patterned white tablecloth. The canvas is filled to its edges with floral exuberance.
The decorated vase, heavily outlined, serves as the visual anchor, rooting the loose, lyrical arrangement and drawing the viewer’s gaze back through the movement of petals and stems. The ribbon, almost theatrical in its flow, adds structure. Beaton’s bright green signature, tucked in
the lower right, becomes more than a name, it is a final flourish, the confident mark of a painter satisfied with her design. This is an artist in full command of her palette, her vision, and her craft.
About Penelope Beaton
Penelope Beaton (1886–1963) was one of the most respected painters and teachers of her generation, and a significant figure within the development of twentieth-century Scottish art. Closely associated with the Edinburgh School, Beaton built a remarkable career at a time when opportunities for women artists remained limited, establishing herself not only as a painter of distinction but also as an influential mentor and advocate for younger artists. Her long relationship with The Scottish Gallery stands as an important example of the Gallery’s enduring commitment to championing women artists and supporting their careers across generations.
