Still life pastel of roses by Lena M Alexander 1899-1983

A stunning still life of a vase of roses in oil pastels by Lena M Alexander. The work has a feel of the Scottish colourists, unsurprisingly as the artist had been influenced by them. The pastels have been handled with great confidence and flair, to create a dramatic, dynamic piece. The work is signed to the lower right Lena Alexander and dated 1960. Alexander was born in Glasgow in 1899 she studied at the Glasgow School of Art and then, in the 1930s, moved to Kirkcudbright where she became an active member of the group of artists known as the Kirkcudbright School which included various artists over time such as Hornel, Mouncey, and Peploe. Alexander mainly painted in pastel and watercolours, mostly portraits and images of flowers, but occasionally landscapes. During her career Alexander exhibited at the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, the Royal Academy in London, at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and with the Society of Women Artists. Between 1919 and 1925 and then again from 1943 to 1972 she was a regular exhibitor with the Royal Scottish Academy. Examples of her work were included in the ‘Still Life in the Twentieth Century’ exhibition held at Bourne Fine Art in Edinburgh during 1999 of which this piece was probably one. A number of public galleries in Scotland hold her work including the McLean Museum in Greenock, the Kirkcudbright Galleries and the Stewartry Museum. She was one of the last surviving members of the Kirkcudbright artist’s colony when she died in 1983 representing the passing of a great period of Scottish art. This piece is a superb example of Alexander’s work of a good size and in excellent condition. The pastel is in a fine quality secure mount and a modern frame that works very well with the artwork. The whole is a wonderful piece of Scottish art by a great artist, packing a huge decorative punch, and ready to hang
Overall sizes in inches including frame: 33 by 30 ½