Gouache Painting: Bouquet Of Roses In An Art Nouveau Roundel

Attributed to Victor Gabriel GILBERT – Watercolor and gouache roses, circa 1900, signed

Bouquet of white, cream, and pale pink roses on a deep blue-green background.

A very delicate small floral composition in a circular format, attributed to Victor Gabriel Gilbert (1847–1933). A large pale pink rose occupies the foreground and serves as the luminous center of the composition. Its coral-red center contrasts with the white, cream, and pink petals that unfurl around it. Several white roses appear in the upper portion, accompanied by buds and foliage rendered in a range of greens, grays, and blues.

The artist plays with varying degrees of definition: the central rose is precisely rendered through a succession of light brushstrokes and opaque highlights, while the secondary flowers blend more seamlessly into the blue-green background. This technique creates a real sense of depth.

A beautiful combination of watercolor and gouache on paper or thin cardstock. The dark areas and foliage are rendered with transparent blue-green and olive-green washes. The petals are then built up with a more opaque gouache—at times quite thick—blending white, cream, pale pink, bluish gray, and a few touches of red. The light highlights along the edges of the petals accentuate their volume and give the central rose a remarkable sense of texture.

The painting nevertheless retains the spontaneity characteristic of watercolor: some leaves are merely suggested by a few quick strokes, their outlines blending directly into the background.

Attributed to Victor Gabriel Gilbert (Paris, 1847–1933). A French painter and watercolorist, Gilbert distinguished himself in scenes of Parisian life and markets, with flowers featuring prominently in his work. He also produced numerous small-format studies in watercolor and gouache.