Important Fine Art Realism – Victorian 19th Century Oil Painting

Still Life “Vase of Chrysanthemums”

By Emily Selinger (née McGary)

🌸 Subject & Medium

A highly accomplished late 19th-century Victorian still life depicting a luxurious arrangement of chrysanthemums in full bloom, painted in oil on canvas by the listed American artist Emily Selinger.

The bouquet features white and soft purple blossoms with glowing golden-yellow centres, beautifully arranged within a finely rendered green glazed ceramic vase. The artwork is backed with a protective board to the reverse.

🖌️ Composition & Technique

The composition is precisely balanced and thoughtfully arranged. The central bouquet and substantial vase anchor the scene, while fallen petals and detached flower heads scattered across the tabletop introduce naturalism, movement, and quiet narrative.

A softly draped curtain in the background closes the composition, adding tonal contrast and atmospheric depth without detracting from the floral subject.

Emily Selinger’s realist technique is exemplary. Delicate, individual brushwork defines each petal, while confident handling of light and shadow creates convincing volume and texture. The vase is particularly impressive, displaying subtle glaze gradations and accurate reflections that produce a tactile, three-dimensional presence. The painting demonstrates mature control of colour, form, and surface, unified by a refined harmony of light and atmosphere.

👩🎨 About the Artist

Emily Selinger (née Emily Harris McGary) — American, born during the mid-19th century and deceased in the late 1920s.

An accomplished painter of floral still lifes, Selinger studied at the Cooper Institute School of Design in New York, taught widely, and played an influential role in American art education. She exhibited at the Academy of Design (New York), Boston Art Club, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and was twice awarded silver medals at the Mechanics’ Association exhibitions.

Known in her lifetime as “Emily Selinger, the Rose Painter,” her work was widely collected and remains sought after today by collectors, interior designers, galleries, and institutions.

✍️ Signed

This painting is signed by Emily Selinger, confirming authorship and significantly enhancing authenticity, desirability, and long-term collector value.

🏛️ Historical Significance

Dated to the late Victorian era, this work exemplifies the high standards of American realist floral painting of the period. As a fine example by a recognised female artist who achieved contemporary acclaim and institutional exhibition, the painting carries both aesthetic importance and historical relevance.

It represents a collectible and increasingly appreciated example of late 19th-century American still-life painting.

🖼️ Framed

Housed in an attractive later decorative gilt moulded frame that complements the painting’s colours and enhances its visual impact.

The reverse retains a protective board and hanging thread, making the painting ready for immediate display in a home, office, or gallery setting.

📏 Size (Frame Dimensions — centimetres)

• Height: 60 cm

• Width: 70 cm

• Depth: 7 cm

An elegant, gallery-appropriate size well suited to both domestic and professional interiors.

📜 Provenance

• Stamped verso: James Swope Fine Arts Conservation Inc., West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

• Retains a high-end Shire auction label

• Now in the Collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant

This documented provenance supports attribution and provides strong buyer confidence.

❤️ Why You’ll Love It

✅ Museum-quality Victorian floral painting showcasing exceptional realism and refined composition
✅ By a known and listed American artist, increasingly sought after by collectors, designers, galleries, and museums
✅ Outstanding colour harmony and detail, with lifelike chrysanthemums and a beautifully rendered glazed vase
✅ Rich historical and artistic significance as a late 19th-century American Realist work by a prominent female artist
✅ Strong decorative presence, ideal for elevating homes, offices, and professional interiors
✅ Documented provenance, enhancing collectability and long-term value
✅ A timeless family heirloom, to be admired and passed down for generations

🧾 Condition Report

Offered in fine used condition, consistent with age and period character:

• Some paint loss to one of the upper right flowers & surface foxing stains and craquelure visible across the canvas

• Stretcher lines noticeable toward the upper area

• Frame exhibiting general wear, dust, staining, and minor chips consistent with age and use

• Protective board attached to verso; hanging thread fitted and intact

These characteristics are commensurate with a late 19th-century painting. The piece presents well for display and conservation if desired