Floral Still Life with Copper Watering Can Signed Laurence c. 1900 - 28" x 32¼"

A lyrical still life in oil on canvas, this composition presents an antique copper watering can set beside a simple wooden crate overflowing with freshly gathered garden blooms. Creamy chrysanthemums and blush roses spill outward, their petals scattered across a softly shadowed surface, suggesting the quiet aftermath of a day’s work in the garden. The palette ranges from moss and olive greens to warm umbers, soft pinks, and buttery creams. In the lightest passages, the weave of the canvas subtly shows through the brushstrokes, lending the surface a tactile freshness and reinforcing the painting’s natural, uncontrived charm. Textured brushwork brings the composition to life, catching the light across the copper vessel and tender foliage.

The work is signed Laurence, the pseudonym used by Alfred Brunel de Neuville (French, 1852–1941), a prolific and well-regarded painter of still lifes, particularly floral compositions and intimate scenes with cats. Trained in the academic tradition yet drawn to informal, domestic subjects, Brunel de Neuville developed a style that balances careful observation with a relaxed, painterly touch. His works were widely exhibited in France around the turn of the 20th century and remain appreciated for their warmth, sincerity, and connection to everyday rural life. This painting dates to the late 19th or early 20th century and is presented in a giltwood frame. The condition is good overall, with a few light surface scratches and small pinpoint paint losses consistent with age.

Rich in rustic, country-house appeal, this painting brings a gentle, garden-fresh atmosphere to a conservatory, mudroom, or welcoming entryway. It pairs beautifully with old horticultural books, cream ceramics, and natural materials such as wood or copper. Its mellow gilt frame and romantic subject offer a sense of quiet abundance, equally at home in a countryside setting or lending warmth and softness to a refined city interior.