Adelheid Dietrich (1827–1891)

Typical of Dietrich’s small-scale, meticulously detailed still lifes, this painting depicts a dense arrangement of flowers cascading over a stone step at the edge of a pool. Two pink shrub rose blossoms and a bright red poppy feature prominently among the profusion of flowers, which also includes daisies, campanula, wisteria, and many smaller flowers and grasses that fan out against the dark background. Dew drops form on some of the flower petals and the ledge, and a delicate dragonfly clings to the edge of the step. Below it another aquatic insect, perhaps a mayfly, propels itself out of the water.