Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
'Still life is the touchstone of the painter', Edouard Manet once remarked. This still life featuring his favourite flower, the peony, proves why.
In 'Pivoines dans une bouteille', a trio of peonies is arranged in a tall, narrow vase, their rich green flowers framing the lavish petals. Two more stems lie upon the dark wooden tabletop. Against the background, the white, cream and pink peonies dazzle as chromatic illuminations within this quiet scene.
Painted in 1864 in the wake of of the infamous Salon des Refusés of 1863 and the Salon of 1864, the still life offered Manet a respite from controversy while allowing him to work out new painterly ideas and techniques. One of five works in a series, 'Pivoines dans une bouteille' is 'the first painting of this quality and from these daring years, and the last from the series left in private hands,' says specialist Emma Boyd.
🔗 Discover Manet's still life of lasting power from the collection of Marilyn Arison: christies.com/en/lot/lot-6585789?ldp_breadcrumb=back&cid=EM_SM_O_YT_Inc_LDP___24265_2021CNY0525____VID_LinkInBio
📅 20th Century Evening Sale | New York | 18 May
'Still life is the touchstone of the painter', Edouard Manet once remarked. This still life featuring his favourite flower, the peony, proves why.
In 'Pivoines dans une bouteille', a trio of peonies is arranged in a tall, narrow vase, their rich green flowers framing the lavish petals. Two more stems lie upon the dark wooden tabletop. Against the background, the white, cream and pink peonies dazzle as chromatic illuminations within this quiet scene.
Painted in 1864 in the wake of of the infamous Salon des Refusés of 1863 and the Salon of 1864, the still life offered Manet a respite from controversy while allowing him to work out new painterly ideas and techniques. One of five works in a series, 'Pivoines dans une bouteille' is 'the first painting of this quality and from these daring years, and the last from the series left in private hands,' says specialist Emma Boyd.
🔗 Discover Manet's still life of lasting power from the collection of Marilyn Arison: christies.com/en/lot/lot-6585789?ldp_breadcrumb=back&cid=EM_SM_O_YT_Inc_LDP___24265_2021CNY0525____VID_LinkInBio
📅 20th Century Evening Sale | New York | 18 May
