Scottish Floral Still Life “Mary’s Garden” by Dan Ferguson Roi, 20th Century

Details

Description

Scottish Floral Still Life “Mary’s Garden” by Dan Ferguson ROI, 20th Century

An exhibition-documented Scottish oil painting of wild and … Read more Scottish Floral Still Life “Mary’s Garden” by Dan Ferguson ROI, 20th Century

An exhibition-documented Scottish oil painting of wild and garden flowers by Dan Ferguson ROI (1910–1992), retaining its original Paisley Art Institute label.

Highlights

* Original oil painting on board
* By Scottish artist Dan Ferguson ROI (1910–1992)
* Signed “Dan Ferguson” lower right
* Titled “Mary’s Garden” on the original exhibition label
* Exhibited at the Paisley Art Institute
* Original exhibition label retained verso
* Rich arrangement of Scottish wildflowers and traditional garden blooms
* Decorative gilt frame
* Presented under glass
* Recorded previous auction history with McTear’s, Glasgow
* Excellent statement piece for a traditional, country-house or layered interior

Introduction

A wonderfully atmospheric Scottish floral still life by Dan Ferguson ROI (1910–1992), depicting a generous arrangement of wild and cultivated flowers gathered together in a traditional tankard-form vessel.

Entitled “Mary’s Garden,” the painting combines the intimacy of a garden-picked bouquet with the formal compositional discipline of an exhibition work. Heather, thistles, foxgloves, daisies and blue-toned flowers mingle with yellow and mauve blooms, their varied forms emerging vividly against a restrained background.

Ferguson places the bouquet upon a dark tabletop, allowing the flowers and reflective vessel to command the composition. The contrast between the softly muted setting and the brighter floral passages gives the painting considerable decorative presence when viewed across a room.

Of particular interest is the original **Paisley Art Institute exhibition label** retained on the reverse, identifying the artist, title and historic exhibition details.

Catalogue Details

Artist: Dan Ferguson ROI
Nationality: Scottish
Dates: 1910–1992
Title: Mary’s Garden
Medium: Oil on board
Subject: Floral still life / Scottish wildflowers and garden flowers
Signature: Signed “Dan Ferguson” lower right
Presentation: Framed and glazed
Frame: Decorative gilt moulded frame
Exhibition: Paisley Art Institute
Exhibition Number: No. 2
Original Exhibition Price: £40
Artist Address on Label:*Redyett, Motherwell, Lanarkshire
Agent Recorded on Label: McClures, Glasgow
Period: 20th century

Catalogue Note

“Mary’s Garden” has considerably more documentary interest than an unidentified decorative floral still life because its original exhibition label survives.

The Paisley Art Institute label records the work as **Exhibit No. 2**, gives its title as **“MARY’S GARDEN”**, identifies the artist as **“DAN FERGUSON, R.O.I.”**, and records an original asking price of **£40**. The label additionally provides Ferguson’s Motherwell, Lanarkshire address and records McClures of Glasgow as agent.

The composition is constructed around a broad pyramidal arrangement. Taller flower stems establish the upper register, while densely overlapping blooms create the principal body of the bouquet. Smaller stems and foliage soften the lower portion of the composition and visually connect the flowers with their vessel.

The bouquet appears to incorporate flowers associated with both Scottish countryside and cottage gardens, including heather, thistle, foxglove, daisies, bluebells and other mixed seasonal blooms.

The metallic-looking tankard or jug is itself carefully modelled, with reflected highlights giving solidity to the vessel beneath the exuberant floral display.

The painting therefore works on two levels: as a documented example of Ferguson’s exhibition work and as a highly decorative Scottish floral painting suitable for a sophisticated interior.

The Artist — Dan Ferguson ROI (1910–1992)

Dan Ferguson was a Scottish painter and printmaker associated particularly with Motherwell, Lanarkshire*

He studied at the **Glasgow School of Art** and developed a career encompassing painting and graphic work. His surviving paintings demonstrate an interest in traditional representational subjects, including landscapes and still life.

Ferguson became associated with the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, reflected by the post-nominal **ROI** appearing both in references to the artist and, importantly, upon the period exhibition label attached to this painting.

The documentary material accompanying “Mary’s Garden” is particularly useful in establishing the work within Ferguson’s exhibiting career. The Paisley Art Institute label connects the painting directly with the Scottish exhibition circuit and records Ferguson at his Motherwell address.

Exhibition History

Paisley Art Institute

The original exhibition label verso records:

Exhibit No. 2
“MARY’S GARDEN”
Dan Ferguson, R.O.I.
Original price: £40
Artist address: Redyett, Motherwell, Lanarkshire
Agent: McClures, Glasgow

The original label remains attached to the reverse and forms an important part of the painting’s documentary history.

Provenance

Paisley Art Institute exhibition, as documented by the original label verso.

McClures, Glasgow, recorded as agent on the exhibition label.

Later appearing on the Scottish art market.

McTear’s, Glasgow, 20 June 2024, where “Mary’s Garden,” described as an oil on board by Dan Ferguson, signed and retaining its titled label verso, was offered at auction.

Subsequently acquired for the inventory of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

The surviving verso labels have been retained as part of the work’s provenance and ownership record.

Dimensions

Framed:
75 cm high × 60 cm wide × 5.5 cm deep
Approximately*29.5 × 23.6 × 2.2 inches

Visible painting area:
Approximately 61 × 46 cm
Approximately 24 × 18.1 inches

Condition Report

Offered in good used condition consistent with its age and history.

The painted surface displays light age-related characteristics including areas of foxing and craquelure.

Ageing and foxing are also visible to areas of the reverse/backboard.

The decorative gilt frame displays expected age and handling wear, including marks, minor chips, surface cracking and accumulated wear.

The painting remains highly attractive and presents very well when displayed.

Please refer to all photographs as they form an integral part of the condition report.


Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution and catalogue information provided for this artwork have been prepared by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® in good faith, based upon examination of the work, its inscriptions and labels, available documentary evidence, published references and relevant market records.

Attributions and historical identifications represent our professional opinion based upon the evidence available at the time of cataloguing and should not be interpreted as independent authentication by the artist, artist’s estate, foundation or catalogue raisonné authority unless expressly stated.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® is an exclusively online fine art dealership specialising in carefully selected British and European paintings, sculpture and works of art.

Each work is individually researched and catalogued with attention to attribution, provenance, historical context, condition and relevant documentary evidence.

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