Oil paint on canvas
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<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/charles-conder-934" aria-label="More by Charles Conder" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Charles Conder</a>
Plum Tree
Bequeathed by Arthur Studd 1919
<p>Conder was trained in Sydney and Melbourne, and in 1890 moved to Paris. In Australia he was already known as an Impressionist, for his decorative and delicately coloured landscapes. These were inspired in part by Whistler, whose work was known in Australia from prints. 'The Plum Tree' was one of his first paintings in France. The way he concentrates on the flowers, as if illustrating Spring, reflects his interest in symbolism. The painting is dedicated to Arthur Studd, an English painter also working in Paris, who was an associate both of Whistler and Gauguin.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
The Plum Tree
support: 800 × 451 mm
Bequeathed by Arthur Studd 1919
<p>Conder was trained in Sydney and Melbourne, and in 1890 moved to Paris. In Australia he was already known as an <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/i/impressionism" title="Glossary definition for 'Impressionism'"><span>Impressionist</span></a>, for his decorative and delicately coloured <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/l/landscape" title="Glossary definition for 'Landscape'"><span>landscapes</span></a>. These were inspired in part by Whistler, whose work was known in Australia from <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/print" title="Glossary definition for 'Print'"><span>prints</span></a>. 'The Plum Tree' was one of his first <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>paintings</span></a> in France. The way he concentrates on the flowers, as if illustrating Spring, reflects his interest in <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/s/symbolism" title="Glossary definition for 'Symbolism'"><span>symbolism</span></a>. The painting is dedicated to Arthur Studd, an English painter also working in Paris, who was an associate both of Whistler and Gauguin.</p>
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2004-08-31T00:00:00
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<p><b>N03423</b> THE PLUM TREE 1891
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<br/>Inscr. ‘Charles Conder To my friend Studd The Plum Tree April 1891’ b.l.
<br/>Canvas, 31 1/2×17 3/4 (80×45).
<br/>Bequeathed by Arthur Studd 1919.
<br/><i>Coll:</i> Presented by the artist to Arthur Studd 1891.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> Tate Gallery, July–September 1927 (78).
<br/><i>Lit:</i> Gibson, 1914, p.34; Rothenstein, 1938, p.259.</p>
<p>Conder spent the spring and summer of 1891 in Normandy. He had exhibited <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>paintings</span></a> of blossoms at Père Thomas's Gallery, Paris, in March 1891, but these may have included some painted in Australia, where he first began to paint trees in blossom. Conder met Arthur Studd, the painter, in Paris, where he settled in August 1890. (See also <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/conder-springtime-n04221" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N04221</span></a>.)</p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, I</p>
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Catalogue entry
2004-10-05T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
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