Butterflies

Sarah Paxton Ball Dodson was one of the most technically accomplished artists of her generation. Her mastery of draftsmanship and oil technique, combined with her ambitious sense of composition and eye for detail, led to an impressive career that was tragically cut short and was much overlooked for much of the 20th century.

She was born and raised in Philadelphia. Her father was an engraver, so her artistic grounding began from early childhood. Her formal training however did not commence until after the death of her father in 1872 when she enrolled as a private pupil of Christian Schussele at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She was one of many American women who then went on to Paris to study, joining the atelier of Évariste Vital Luminais for three years from 1873.

In 1885 she returned to the United States and widened her repertoire to include plein-air landscapes before returning to France. She adopted a poetic style that reflected many influences: the Pre-Raphaelites (especially in her choice of overtly religious subject matter), French Symbolism, and fairy painting (which was at its height in Britain in this period). The influence of symbolism and her love of iconography is evident in this work painted in 1891, the year she moved to Brighton, England. Its Art Nouveau details and choice of butterfly motif make it the perfect evocation of the age.

P.S. Have a great Sunday!!  : ) And don't forget to check Damien Hirst’s butterfly mandalas here.  <3