Macfarlane, James Laird “Catta. Mossiae, Kathleen”

James Laird Macfarlane.  “Catta. Mossiae, Kathleen.” [orchid].

1905.  12 x 9 1/2 (full sheet).  Watercolor painting.   Watercolor has been professionally conserved by removing it from an acidic artist’s board, deacidified and backed with acid free tissue to preserve it.  Very good condition.

Information for this watercolor was on the verso of the original acidic backing board which was not able to be preserved during the conservation process.  A credit on the verso of the old backing board read “Painted for J. Bradshaw Esqr. by Macfarlane, 20th June 1905.”  James Laird Macfarlane  (1836-1918) was a highly regarded painter of orchids from the late 19th-early 20th Century. He illustrated Frederick Boyle's The Woodlands Orchids, Described and Illustrated with Stories of Orchid-Collecting.

J. Bradshaw was a well known grower of prized orchids at his property, “The Grange” in Southgate, London, and commissioned Macfarlane to depict one of his fine specimens.  Bradshaw’s entire collection of orchids was sold in 1908 for 5,000 Pounds or $840,000 in today’s dollars.  This exquisite watercolor accurately shows the structure and color of this particular specimen.  An absolutely lovely work of art.