SOPHIE'S THISTLES

Created from three exquisite watercolours by Jacques Martin, circa 1877, acquired at the Christie's sale of the Bianchini Férier Collection in 2001. Twenty-four very fine screens were required to achieve the great subtlety of colouring that makes this design so remarkable. Sophie's Thistles has a painterly quality and a depth of tone that rewards close examination and improves with every viewing.