BC049
Tulips
Still life featuring tulips and daffodils in a pale vase. The lower third of the canvas is a horizontal band of mid tone colour which contrasts with the bright yellow of the upper two thirds of the canvas. Green foliage spills out of the vase to the lower band.
LL green and blue/white brush point H or F Scales (initial unclear)
LL green and blue/white signature overpainted with ochre brush point Scales
LR blue/white brush point 1965
Verso UL pencil on strainer (not in artist's hand) 92157 1/2 19 ATL Scales, Helen Flora V [Tulips] 1965 oil 35.5 x 28cms Rack 391 M 20 (now covered by frame)
Verso UR pencil on strainer (not in artist's hand) H F V Scales, 1965 (now covered by frame)
Verso Upper Centre label 523
Verso UR (not in artist's hand) pencil 15mm
Verso UR (not in artist's hand) pencil 391
Verso Left Centre (not in artist's hand) pencil 391
Verso UL label artwork details
Verso UL label Alexander Turnbull Library
Verso LL framers label
Verso LR framers label
Donated to the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand by H. F. V. Scales, 1979
Framed with glass.
Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand
Title supplied by artist at time of donation, 1979.
Two black and white photographs of this work are included in an artist’s file dedicated to Flora Scales at the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, reference Scales, Helen Flora Victoria, 1887-1985, Artist file prints [see Related images 1-4]. The file contains black and white photographs on card of 26 of the artworks in the Alexander Turnbull collection and one not held in the collection [Untitled [Sand Dunes] [BC011]].
Each card measures 167 x 216mm and the image size varies. Each card has handwritten reference notes along the top detailing artist name, title, year, size, and reference number. Further, on the back of each card are handwritten annotations with information including media, reference numbers and location within the physical collection.
The cards in this file are undated. Correspondence B. de Lange and Kimberley Stephenson, Research Librarian Pictorial, Alexander Turnbull Library, September 2025, notes, “Neither the associated copy negatives nor the file prints are dated but based on notes I found in the negative register one group (intermittent between 1/2-092380-F and 1/2-092705-F) was in existence by May 1979, while a second group (intermittent between 1/2-162480-F to 1/2-162510-F) had been created by December 1986. Given most of the paintings entered the collection in 1979, this does suggest that the first group shows the works soon after they were accessioned. The second group appears to have been taken during reframing or conservation treatment as many are shown without their stretchers.” It is assumed that a card was made for this work at both dates, resulting in two copies noting similar information.
