2. Poppies as inspiration for artists:
Many artists have painted poppies, but for purposes of this exhibit we’ve emphasized the work of three: East Hamptonite Childe Hassam, the American Impressionist who painted poppies in the garden of poet and horticulturist Celia Thaxter; Frances Palmer, a contemporary potter, photographer and gardener; and J. J. Grandville, a renowned French political cartoonist and illustrator from the nineteenth century.
- Childe Hassam: An Island Garden Revisited,David Park Curry, Denver Art Museum in association with W. W. Norton & Company, 1990. Curry’s book is a detailed examination of Childe Hassam’s work over the course of a decade of visits to Appledore Island, New Hampshire, during the summer months. The author is a distinguished curator and scholar of American art.
- An Island Garden, Celia Thaxter, with pictures and illustrations by Childe Hassam. Thaxter was a celebrated late nineteenth writer and poet who gardened on Appledore Island, New Hampshire. During the summer, she hosted many writers and artists, among them American Impressionist, Childe Hassam. (Hassam moved to East Hampton in 1919, where he died in 1935 at age 75.) The book contains a map of Thaxter’s cutting garden along with a plant list and many tidbits of gardening advice.
- Life in the Studio: Inspiration and Lessons on Creativity, Frances Palmer, Artisan, Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 2020. A potter known for her handmade functional ceramics, Palmer is also an excellent horticulturist and outstanding floral designer. Her book features her own ceramics, floral designs, and photos of her work, including, of course, Iceland poppies – see pages 147, 192, 195, 200-201. Her chapter on “Ten Lessons in Arranging” provides excellent practical advice for beginners.
- The Court of Flora: Les Fleurs Animée, J. J. Grandville,George Brazillier, Inc. 1982, introduction by Peter A. Wick. First published in 1847, this edition includes an introduction by American collector and curator Peter A. Wick. Wick served as a curator for the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Harvard University’s Fogg Museum and Houghton Library.