The Lemon Branch

About this work

Three lemons hang from the branch, their skins a clear, warm yellow, shaded softly where each fruit curves away from the light. Around them the leaves are glossy and dark, a deep green that makes the yellow look brighter still. Small white blossoms with five petals open between the leaves, pale enough to almost merge with the cream ground until you look closely. The watercolour is laid on in thin washes, so the paper seems to show through and the whole plate feels airy. Fruit and flower sharing one stem give the picture a quiet sense of a season in progress. The fruit reads first from across the room, three bright notes of yellow; nearer, the leaf veins and the small open flowers come forward. The mood is fresh and sunny.

Citrus trees were prized in Europe for centuries, sheltered in orangeries through the winter and recorded in loving detail by botanical artists. On antique botanical plates of the 18th and 19th centuries, a branch was often shown with blossom, leaf and fruit side by side, so that one sheet could describe the whole plant. The Lemon Branch follows that habit, and its gentle washes of colour keep the calm, airy feel of those old pages.

Kitchens are its natural home: above a breakfast table, next to open shelves, or over a dining room sideboard. White, cream, pale yellow, sage and soft terracotta walls all keep it fresh. It enjoys bright morning daylight, and a white mat of medium width helps the pale blossoms stand clear of the frame. At smaller sizes it fits a strip of wall between cabinets. For a second colourful plate, add Hummingbird and Fuchsia. The 7168 × 10752 px print file stays sharp to about 60 × 90 cm, and a light oak or white frame keeps it bright. A Frame TV version with a gallery mat is included.