A striking 1974 oil on canvas by celebrated American painter Lowell Blair Nesbitt, Two Violet Roses is a powerful intersection of Photorealism and Op Art. Executed at the height of his career, this work showcases Nesbitt’s signature large scale botanical imagery while introducing a bold graphic tension through high contrast black and white patterning.
Two monumental violet roses float against a dynamic optical field of zigzag abstraction, creating a dramatic visual dialogue between softness and structure. The velvety gradations of purple, lavender, and deep plum are rendered with meticulous precision, revealing Nesbitt’s mastery of light, depth, and surface. The background’s pulsating geometry heightens the intensity of the florals, transforming a traditional subject into something distinctly modern and electric.
By the mid-1970s, Nesbitt had firmly established himself as one of America’s most recognizable painters. His 1964 debut at the Corcoran Gallery of Art propelled his botanical series into national prominence, and by 1980 the United States Postal Service honored him with a series of stamps based on his iconic floral imagery. His works are held in major institutional collections including The Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and numerous prestigious museums worldwide.
Two Violet Roses captures Nesbitt’s ability to merge technical realism with contemporary visual energy. The scale and chromatic intensity make this a commanding wall presence, equally at home in a refined modern interior or a bold, design-forward space.
A museum caliber work that embodies the drama, polish, and ambition of 1970s American painting.
Artist: Lowell Nesbitt
Dimensions: 51”H x 39”W
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Signature: Signed and dated
Period: 1974
Condition: Very good condition with minor, stable craquelure present consistent with age. Surface retains strong color saturation and structural integrity .
A striking 1974 oil on canvas by celebrated American painter Lowell Blair Nesbitt, Two Violet Roses is a powerful intersection of Photorealism and Op Art. Executed at the height of his career, this work showcases Nesbitt’s signature large scale botanical imagery while introducing a bold graphic tension through high contrast black and white patterning.
Two monumental violet roses float against a dynamic optical field of zigzag abstraction, creating a dramatic visual dialogue between softness and structure. The velvety gradations of purple, lavender, and deep plum are rendered with meticulous precision, revealing Nesbitt’s mastery of light, depth, and surface. The background’s pulsating geometry heightens the intensity of the florals, transforming a traditional subject into something distinctly modern and electric.
By the mid-1970s, Nesbitt had firmly established himself as one of America’s most recognizable painters. His 1964 debut at the Corcoran Gallery of Art propelled his botanical series into national prominence, and by 1980 the United States Postal Service honored him with a series of stamps based on his iconic floral imagery. His works are held in major institutional collections including The Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian Institution, and numerous prestigious museums worldwide.
Two Violet Roses captures Nesbitt’s ability to merge technical realism with contemporary visual energy. The scale and chromatic intensity make this a commanding wall presence, equally at home in a refined modern interior or a bold, design-forward space.
A museum caliber work that embodies the drama, polish, and ambition of 1970s American painting.
Artist: Lowell Nesbitt
Dimensions: 51”H x 39”W
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Signature: Signed and dated
Period: 1974
Condition: Very good condition with minor, stable craquelure present consistent with age. Surface retains strong color saturation and structural integrity .
