"Certainly I hope to sell in the course of time " - Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890)
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Rosa Mistica (formerly Harem Rose)

Antonio Marchese in Sanremo developed a new hybrid rose in 2005 that Matthew has used as the subject for this painting. The subtle colours of the flower, soft cold pinks and cobalt blue tints are the ideal subject for treatment in watercolour. The work was created using a fine sable brush (or 'pencil' as older painters used to call them) to create washes of cobalt violet and blue and light cadmiums together with various shades of pink and greens. The flower became a Sanremo success when the Vatican in Rome ordered, in 2007, thousands of sprigs of Rosa Mistica to embellish a reception greeting new cardinals. The rose's name initially 'Harem' was modified, for diplomatic reasons, to Rosa Mistica.

Flowers and Trees are available for book illustrations, annual reports, paper and packaging, giftware, related products. You can license them in the following format: Original transparencies in 6 x 6 cm. (2¼ in.) format, high-resolution RGB drum scans on DVD or efficient and quick E-Mail or FTP upload.