MARY FEDDEN, R.A. (BRITISH, 1915-2012)
The Offering
signed and dated 'Fedden 1997' (lower left)
oil on canvas
101.5 x 127 cm. (40 x 50 in.)

Provenance
The artist, whom exhibited at
Royal Academy of Arts, London, where purchased by the present owner

Exhibited
London, Royal Academy of Arts, Summer Exhibition, 1997, no.2
London, Portland Gallery, Mary Fedden: A Retrospective, 8-30 May 2008, cat.no.77
London, Portland Gallery, Mary Fedden, 26 Jan-17 Feb 2017, cat.no.22

In 1997, the same year she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), Chiswick-based artist Mary Fedden painted the present work titled The Offering. Her appointment had established her contribution to arts in the United Kingdom and her style had become a distinct one. The Offering features many typical elements of her long-spanning career, namely the central focus within this painting, a still life of exotically captured flowers at the forefront of the composition.

In this painting, Fedden skilfully intertwines the familiar comforts of everyday life and the beauty of natural surroundings with the intriguing allure of exotic journeys and distant places, showcasing her artistic prowess. Fedden’s relationship with artist Julian Trevelyan played a significant role in the themes and motifs that characterised her work. The pair, who relished exploration and travel, incorporated their discoveries into many of their respective works.

Regardless of proximity, Fedden found inspiration in her environment. In the Chiswick area, her artworks frequently showcased the everyday beauty surrounding her, whether it was the vistas from her bedroom window or carefully crafted still-life scenes, both real and imagined. Through her art, the artist encapsulated the essence of exploration and vitality. Like many other such examples of her work, Fedden uses warm and earthy brown tones alongside rich and deep oranges, blues and purples to create a true depth to the composition.