Mary’S Garden” — Scottish Exhibition Floral Still Life By Dan Ferguson ROI

“Mary’s Garden” — Scottish Exhibition Floral Still Life by Dan Ferguson ROI

An abundant Scottish garden bouquet with original Paisley Art Institute exhibition documentation, signed and presented in an ornate gilt frame.

Highlights

• Dan Ferguson ROI (1910–1992)
• Original Paisley Art Institute Exhibition label
• Exhibit No. 2
• Original £40 exhibition price
• McClures, Glasgow recorded as agent
• Signed lower right
• Oil on board
• Large decorative gilt frame
• Presented under glass

Introduction

A richly decorative Scottish floral still life by **Dan Ferguson ROI (1910–1992)**.

Ferguson fills a grey-green metal jug with an abundant arrangement of garden flowers, balancing saturated golden yellow, white, blue, purple, burgundy and orange against a subdued background.

The composition has considerable wall presence while retaining the sophisticated tonal restraint associated with an exhibition still life.

Catalogue Details

Artist: Dan Ferguson ROI
Dates: 1910–1992
Title: *Mary’s Garden*
Date: Post-1958 / second half of the 20th century
Medium: Oil on board
Signature: Signed lower right
Image: approximately 61 × 46 cm / 24 × 18.1 in
Overall: 75 × 60 × 5.5 cm / 29.5 × 23.6 × 2.2 in
Frame: Ornate gilt moulded frame
Presentation: Under glass

Catalogue Note

Ferguson’s recorded oeuvre includes a number of substantial floral still lifes. *Mixed Bouquet*, *Flowerpiece with Peaches* and *Summer Flowers* provide useful comparisons with the present work.

Of particular interest, *Summer Flowers* measures approximately 61 × 46 cm, essentially identical to *Mary’s Garden*. The comparison indicates Ferguson’s repeated use of this approximately 24 × 18 inch format for major flower compositions.

Here, tall flowering stems rise from a broad central mass of blooms. Smaller flowers, buds and foliage break the silhouette, preventing the arrangement from becoming overly formal.

The overlapping stems and flower heads establish spatial depth, while the subdued background allows the bouquet to project strongly forward.

Ferguson’s handling of the vessel is equally accomplished, with soft reflected tones and highlights giving the grey-green metal a convincing sense of weight and surface.

The original Paisley Art Institute Exhibition label significantly enhances the documentary interest of the painting by preserving its exhibited title, number, original price and contemporary artist details.

The Flowers

The arrangement combines cultivated and cottage-garden flowers.

Steel-blue **sea holly (Eryngium-type)** is particularly distinctive. White daisies, asters/Michaelmas daisy-type blooms, orange Gladiolus-type flowers, substantial yellow flower heads and a purple Dahlia or spider/quill Chrysanthemum-type bloom can also be distinguished.

Additional mauve sprays, blue flowers, white filler blossoms, buds and foliage complete the arrangement.

The Artist

Dan Ferguson ROI was a Scottish painter and printmaker associated with Motherwell.

Published records state that he trained at Glasgow School of Art and was elected to the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1958. He exhibited with prominent Scottish art institutions, and floral still life formed an established strand within his practice.

Exhibition History

Paisley Art Institute Exhibition.

Original label verso:

No. 2
MARY’S GARDEN
DAN FERGUSON, R.O.I.
Redyett, Motherwell, Lanarks
McClures, Glasgow
£40

The exact exhibition year has not yet been established. The R.O.I. designation supports a post-1958 date.

Provenance & Recorded History

Paisley Art Institute Exhibition.

McClures, Glasgow — agent.

McTear’s, Glasgow, 20 June 2024, Lot 194.

The McTear’s catalogue incorrectly attributed the work to Danny Ferguson (1925–1993). The surviving original exhibition label identifies **Dan Ferguson ROI of Motherwell**.

Subsequently Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®.

Dimensions

Image: approximately 61 × 46 cm / 24 × 18.1 in

Framed: approximately 75 × 60 × 5.5 cm / 29.5 × 23.6 × 2.2 in

Condition Report

Good decorative condition overall. The ornate frame displays age-related rubbing, marks, decorative losses and areas of cracking/separation to the applied moulded ornament.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

The painting will be professionally packed with appropriate consideration given to the painted board, glazing and decorative gilt frame. Insured delivery can be arranged according to destination.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

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