Into the Scented Gardens

Here we see a pair of Golden Orioles. The suggestion for this painting came from an ancient Chinese poem. You can see, too, the obvious influence of Persian miniature paintings. Persian miniatures often frame the idea of the garden, and the colors in them are rich and intense. This composition arises from studying 18th-century Persian paintings. During a visit to Istanbul, Turkey years ago, I was mesmerized by the richness of the culture, and the superb craftsmanship of the artisans there. My short visit had a huge influence on my work. I would also love to visit Iran one day, and see Persian gardens in real life.

Curator’s Note: One of the ‘arts of the book,’ miniature was coined by art historians to describe paintings in medieval and early modern manuscripts (as opposed to free-standing paintings) created by both Eastern and Western cultures.

The Golden Five

Deep in the Woods