Victor Gilbert Art Nouveau Painting: Bouquet Of Iris Flowers, Still Life, Round Medallion

Attributed to Victor Gabriel GILBERT – Irises, watercolor and gouache, circa 1900, signed

A floral composition depicting irises with large, fully opened petals in shades of pink, wine-red, white, and purple, accompanied by long green leaves.

A charming small floral study in a circular format, attributed to Victor Gabriel Gilbert (1847–1933), a French painter known in particular for his Parisian scenes, flower markets, and works on paper. The composition is built around a large flower occupying the center of the painting. The petals are rendered through layers of pink, white, dark red, and violet, with a denser texture in the lit areas. The long leaves and stems, by contrast, are rendered with more fluid and transparent brushstrokes, forming a network of diagonal lines.

The yellow-green background is rendered in a light wash, while the flowers are accented with opaque highlights of white, pink, and red gouache. Certain areas are painted with a fairly thick application of paint, giving the petals a sense of depth. The leaves are rendered with a softer brush, using quick strokes and layered washes. This alternation between transparency and opacity clearly sets the flowers apart from the background.

Attributed to Victor Gabriel Gilbert (Paris, 1847–1933). Gilbert worked in oil as well as watercolor and gouache, particularly in numerous small-format studies. Floral compositions are a recurring theme in his work, either directly or within his scenes of markets and florists.