Lot 13

The Collection of K. B. Leaver, Chaplain, Flinders Medical Centre (label verso)
Private collection, Adelaide
Elder Fine Art, Adelaide, 28 May 2017, lot 25 (as "Still Life – Pink, White and Red Camellias in Rustic Kettle (Flowers from the Artist's Garden)")
Private collection, Adelaide

Time spent in the garden and an interest in flowers shaped Nora Heysen's earliest memories of her idyllic childhood in Hahndorf. The daughter of acclaimed artist Hans Heysen, she began painting at a young age, studying alongside her siblings at the family home and working 'en plein air' to create still life scenes; a subject that remained central throughout her career.

Painted in 1963, '(Still Life - Camellias)' exemplifies Heysen's assured handling of floral composition. A simple metal bucket brimming with camellias is rendered in thick, confident brushstrokes that emphasise texture and vitality. The warm reds, pinks and whites of the camellias stand out against a cool blue-grey background, while the solid weight of the bucket contrasts with the vibrant, freshly cut flowers.

Although the still life subject sits at the core of Heysen's oeuvre, each work is distinct, ranging from stylised floral arrangements to spontaneous studies of fruit. From this period onwards, she increasingly focused on still life and interior scenes, deepening her engagement with subjects rooted in memory and personal experience.